Industry minister Ryosei Akazawa has been named Japan’s critical-materials czar, tasked with ensuring a steady supply of these materials — including naphtha — as war continues in the Middle East.
In an X post on Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wrote that Akazawa is charged with conducting a comprehensive review of the supply situation for essential materials.
He will also lead the effort to develop concrete policy responses to the fast-evolving situation “in order to protect the lives and livelihoods of the public,” Takaichi added.
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