La situación en Oriente Medio provoca escasez de combustible　Muchas áreas de Japón ventermasol cerrados forzosamente

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 4th — Japanese media reported on the 3rd that due to the impact of the Middle East situation, Japan’s crude oil imports have plummeted, leading to a tight supply of heavy oil derived from crude processing. Many hot springs and bathing facilities across Japan have been forced to close due to a lack of heavy oil used as fuel, while others have shortened operating hours to reduce costs.

Ikeda Hot Spring in Gifu Prefecture is one of the well-known hot springs in the area, attracting about 10,000 visitors each month, renowned for its smooth natural hot spring water. But since the 3rd, this hot spring has announced its closure. The management explained that the hot spring itself has a temperature of over 30 degrees, and needs to be heated to above 40 degrees with a boiler, which requires about 1,400 liters of heavy oil daily. Due to the inability to secure a supply of heavy oil, Ikeda Hot Spring has decided to close.

This is a photo of a gas station taken in Tokyo, Japan, on March 19th. Xinhua News Agency reporter Yue Chenxing took the photo.

According to the management, amid ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the cost of purchasing heavy oil has increased four times in a month. Currently, the remaining heavy oil at Ikeda Hot Spring can only last for two days, and whether supply will resume in May remains unpredictable.

Similar situations have also occurred in Aomori Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, and Osaka Prefecture, where some hot springs have been operating for decades. Some operators stated that the hot spring industry is facing an “unprecedented crisis,” and they are helpless, “only able to pray.”

Japan is highly dependent on energy imports, with over 95% reliance on Middle Eastern oil. After the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran at the end of February, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has continued to be obstructed, putting pressure on Japan’s energy supply. On the 16th of last month, the Japanese government began releasing its oil reserves, releasing a total of about 80 million barrels, equivalent to about 45 days of Japan’s domestic oil consumption, setting a new record scale. (Zhang Jing)