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2023

Sustainability Report 2022

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Sustainability Report 2022

Feature 1: Highlight of the Year - Abu Dhabi

INPEX celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Japan Oil Development Co., Ltd. (JODCO) on February 22, 2023. Through this subsidiary, we have been engaging in oil development projects in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi within the United Arab Emirates (UAE). JODCO has focused on building a long-term multilayered relationship between Japan and Abu Dhabi, including through a range of social contribution activities across the three priority areas of education, the environment, and culture.

Social Contribution Activities to date

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environment

Mangrove Planting (photo)

Preparing mangrove seedling pots for transplanting at Zirku Island in November 1999

Mangrove Planting

Between 1999 and 2008, INPEX collaborated with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) to implement a mangrove forestation project with the cooperation of Japanese experts.
We received the ADNOC HSE Award for our efforts in 2000.

Preparing mangrove seedling pots for transplanting at Zirku Island in November 1999

Pearl Culturing (photo)

Inserting pearl nuclei into Akoya oysters

Pearl Culturing

In 2006, the EAD asked INPEX to support the revival of local pearl farming, a practice that previously supported the economy in Abu Dhabi. Since this time, we have supported the transfer of Japan’s pearl culturing technology with the help of Japanese experts.

Inserting pearl nuclei into Akoya oysters

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Education

Children learning Kumon mathematics

Kumon Mathematics Program

From 1998 to 2006, we played an active role in introducing the Kumon method of learning mathematics to Abu Dhabi’s primary school education authorities, restarting this initiative in 2018. From 2020, with students having to study at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all schools teaching the method commenced a tablet computer-based Kumon mathematics learning program. There are currently about 6,000 students studying the program at 10 schools across Abu Dhabi.
Group photo of Emirati students at the Japanese School in Abu Dhabi

Japanese School in Abu Dhabi

Since 2006, together with other Japanese companies operating in Abu Dhabi, we have supported an initiative for Emirati children to enroll in the Japanese School in Abu Dhabi. In the spring of 2018, the first cohort of Emirati students—who entered the school’s kindergarten program in 2006—celebrated their junior high school graduation. To date, the school has welcomed around 50 Emirati national students, many of whom have gone on to enroll in Japanese senior high schools and universities.
UAE university students on a study tour in Japan

UAE University Students Training in Japan

Since 1993, INPEX has been supporting Emirati university students majoring in the fields of geology and petroleum engineering to travel to Japan for training in their specialist fields and Japanese culture. To date, we have supported a total of 199 students.
Khalifa University Solar Car Team, second placegetters in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Solar Car Challenge

Solar Cars

We have provided a range of support to the Petroleum Institute (PI) Solar Car Team. This includes developing cooperative relationships between PI (now Khalifa University) and the Tokai University Solar Car Team, which has an excellent record in international races. In February 2015, PI finished in second place at the Abu Dhabi Solar Car Challenge, the first international solar car race to be held in the Middle East.
Judo Japanese Ambassador’s Cup award ceremony in 2021

Judo

Since 2016, we have supported judo instructors to travel from Japan to assist the training of Abu Dhabi-based judo athletes. We also sponsor the annual Judo Japanese Ambassador’s Cup tournament in Abu Dhabi as part of efforts to promote the spread of judo.
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Culture

Japanese Tea Ceremony (photo)

A tea ceremony experience held at Emirates Palace

Chado, Japanese Tea Ceremony

We have worked with the Urasenke school of tea ceremony to jointly host Japanese tea ceremonies in Abu Dhabi. We have been striving to increase exchanges with local communities by introducing such traditional values and customs from Japan.

A tea ceremony experience held at Emirates Palace

Falconry (photo)

HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, UAE Minister of State, meeting a Japanese falconer at the 2019 ADIHEX JODCO booth

Japanese Falconry and Sword-making

We have been participating in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) since 2004. Over the years, we introduced a number of Japanese traditional cultural activities, including falconry and sword-making.

HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, UAE Minister of State, meeting a Japanese falconer at the 2019 ADIHEX JODCO booth

Future Social Contribution Projects

Establishment of the INPEX JODCO Foundation

On the occasion of JODCO’s 50th anniversary in 2023, we have established the INPEX JODCO Foundation with an endowment of three billion yen. The foundation paves the way for INPEX to help strengthen relations and promote mutual understanding and friendship between the UAE and Japan. This will be achieved through the empowerment of the Emirati society and implementation of activities advocating exchange between the UAE and Japan. As the first step of this initiative, the foundation has reached a memorandum of understanding on the UAE–Japan Falconer Friendship Program with the Emirates Falconers’ Club of the UAE.

In addition to promoting cultural exchanges between Emirati and Japanese falconers, the foundation will study opportunities to conduct a variety of activities. These include initiatives focusing on mangrove-themed environmental education, Emirati youth development, wildlife conservation, and introducing Japanese culture such as the traditional tea ceremony and manga and anime to UAE audiences.

Illustration of future teamLab Phenomena (photo)
Illustration of the future teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi

Sponsorship of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi

As part of efforts to contribute to the enrichment of the UAE’s cultural landscape, JODCO has reached a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to provide a one-billion-yen sponsorship of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. This experiential art space is being developed by DCT Abu Dhabi in partnership with Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences, and Tokyo-based international art collective, teamLab. Construction is under way in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District and scheduled to be completed in 2024.

Once opened, we intend to invite Emirati youth to experience teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi to contribute to the development of their curiosity and imagination.