Premier Danielle Smith, JOGMEC Chairman and CEO Ichiro Takahara, and Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean pose for a photo following the Alberta-JOGMEC MOU signing.
The MOU was signed by Premier Danielle Smith and JOGMEC Chairman and CEO Ichiro Takahara on the ground in Houston, Texas at the CERAWeek energy conference. The agreement renews Alberta and Japan’s commitment to deepen cooperation in the responsible development of our province’s oil, natural gas, hydrogen and ammonia resources, collaborate to advance carbon capture, utilization and storage and other emissions reduction technologies, and work together to identify and support job-creating investment opportunities.
“JOGMEC has been one of our province’s most significant and long-standing partners in Asia and over the years has played a key role in supporting Japanese investment in our energy sector, which has helped fuel our economy and support jobs for Albertans. Through this agreement, Alberta looks forward to building on our long history of friendship to advance our mutual priorities and work together to secure Alberta and Japan’s energy future.”
“The province of Alberta is rich in natural resources, particularly in oil and natural gas resources, and is expected to have great potential for hydrogen and ammonia production. In the field of carbon capture and storage, Alberta has a well-developed business environment, including legal framework, carbon pricing system and government support programs. Through this MOU, JOGMEC will further deepen its cooperative relationship with the Province of Alberta and contribute to the stable supply of energy and resources to Japan and the realization of a carbon neutral society.”
“Alberta and Japan have been good friends for generations and our trade relationship continues to grow through this signing with JOGMEC. We have an opportunity to supply Japan with the most ethically produced oil and gas on the planet to aid in their economy and shift to low-carbon electricity production while we continue to grow our international energy exports.”
JOGMEC has played a key role in supporting Japanese investment in Alberta’s resource sectors that has helped fuel the province’s economy and support jobs for Albertans.
Through this agreement, Alberta and Japan will advance mutual energy priorities, building on a long history of friendship that over the years has spanned a range of sectors including energy, agriculture and agri-food, and tourism, among others.
Quick facts
- JOGMEC is a state-owned enterprise under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry that is dedicated to ensuring Japan has a secure and stable supply of energy and other resources.
- An MOU between Alberta and JOGMEC, previously known as the Japan, Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, was first signed in 2017 and renewed in 2021.
- Canada and Japan have been members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement since 2018.
- In 2024:
- Bilateral trade between Alberta and Japan totalled more than $3.0 billion.
- Japan was Alberta’s third-largest export market, with Alberta’s exports to Japan totalling almost $2.7 billion, and energy exports making up almost $1 billion of that total.