Northeast Japan: Logistics network beginning to recover
Original available at http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/000138042.pdf
According to March 18 USAID Summary Report (worth accessing full report for detail across the spectrum of need and response):
To date, the GoJ has restored 18 main roads, 5 airports, and 6 ports to facilitate aid delivery in affected areas… The International Medical Corps (IMC) reported that systems for delivery of basic goods do not appear overwhelmed at this time in Sendai,with taxis, running water, and electricity available. However, the current shortage of fuel is limiting the aid delivery capacity of relief agencies, private transportation companies, municipalities, and the JSDF. Furthermore, poor communications and insufficient capacity in affected areas has also restricted the delivery of relief items.
According to a March 18 Nikkei report:
The government is pursuing emergency measures to deal with fuel shortages that include shipping 38,000kl of oil products by sea from refineries in Hokkaido and western Japan to the earthquake-devastated Tohoku region. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Banri Kaieda on Thursday called on the Petroleum Association of Japan to implement the emergency steps. METI on Monday had urged oil distributors to release 1.26 million kiloliters, or three days’ worth of mandated reserves, for supply to the market. But since there was no visible improvement in supply to afflicted regions, the government will take its efforts up a notch, Kaieda said.
For starters, it will secure 38,000kl of oil products a day, which is equal to daily demand in Tohoku prior to the earthquake. From a total of 13 refineries in Hokkaido as well as Sakai, Mizushima and elsewhere in western Japan, tankers will transport oil products by sea to storage facilities in Akita and Niigata prefectures.
And 300 tank lorries operating in western Japan will be transferred to Tohoku, increasing the region’s fleet to 700. Kerosene will be put into drums and transported by truck. Kaieda also called for the operating rates of refineries in western Japan, which are stuck at around 80% at present, to be hiked to at least 95%. Of the 500-plus gasoline stations in the quake-hit zone and its surrounding area, 100 will be designated as facilities for priority use by emergency vehicles transporting relief products.
Much more in Japanese at http://www.mlit.go.jp/
