Alberta is in early talks with Japanese refiners about a possible joint venture to fund a coker unit, enabling Japan to process heavy crude from Alberta’s oilsands. The move, unprecedented for the province, comes as Alberta seeks to reduce reliance on the U.S., which currently takes 90% of Canadian oil exports, and bolster shipments via the expanded Trans Mountain pipeline. For Japan, the investment would cut dependence on Middle Eastern oil and bypass South China Sea chokepoints. While discussions are still preliminary, officials say the partnership could support Alberta’s push for a new export pipeline and greater access to Asian markets.
