Fuel oil recycling in the spotlight in JapanーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Tensions in the Middle East continue to keep crude oil prices elevated, and Japan is now facing shortages of refined petroleum products.

[00:00:09]This is boosting interest in recycled fuel oil made from waste oil as an alternative to conventional fuel oil.

[00:00:20]At this recycling plant in Tomakomai City in Hokkaido, aluminum cans and car wheels are melted down.

[00:00:28]The furnace runs on recycled fuel oil.

[00:00:34]Its composition differs slightly from light fuel oil used in factories, but the firm says there is little difference in heat output.

[00:00:42]What you see at the bottom is recycled fuel oil.

[00:00:48]The price is around 70% of conventional oil.

[00:00:52]So far, it has not been affected by rising crude prices linked to Middle East tensions.

[00:00:58]The company says this is a big advantage.

[00:01:03]Price stability is extremely reassuring for us as buyers.

[00:01:12]This is the company that produces recycled fuel oil.

[00:01:18]This is the first tank the collected oil enters, oil that would normally be thrown away.

[00:01:26]Most of the raw material for recycled fuel oil comes from used engine oil.

[00:01:33]It is collected from garages and gas stations across Hokkaido.

[00:01:37]More than 10,000 kiloliters a year.

[00:01:43]Used oil contains metal fragments and debris.

[00:01:47]This machine removes those impurities through centrifugal separation.

[00:01:54]The oil is then processed again in a second centrifuge, this time to remove moisture.

[00:02:04]This is the processed oil.

[00:02:06]The company says 99% of the waste oil it collects is turned into recycled fuel oil. As oil prices rise and supply concerns grow, inquiries are increasing.

[00:02:21]Since March, inquiries have almost doubled.

[00:02:25]If capacity allows, we want to supply new customers as well.

[00:02:34]More than 9 million kiloliters of light fuel oil are consumed every year in Japan.

[00:02:40]By contrast, recycled fuel oil amounts to just half a million kiloliters.

[00:02:47]Industry groups say they want to expand production.

[00:02:51]But efficiently collecting waste oil remains a challenge.