The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC; Governor: HAYASHI Nobumitsu) signed on April 17 a loan agreement amounting to approximately USD104 million with Japan Invest 2 LLC (JI2), a U.S. company established with equity investment from JBIC. The loan is co-financed with private financial institutions, bringing the total co-financing amount to approximately USD313 million. Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) will provide the insurance for the loan by the private financial institutions.
The loan is intended to provide the funds necessary for JI2 to invest in a crude oil transportation and export infrastructure project for industrial use. This project constitutes one of the first batch of projects under the Strategic Investment Initiative based on the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Investment announced by the Governments of Japan and the United States in September 2025. This loan corresponds to the initial investment for this project.
This project will develop a crude oil export terminal in deep waters off the coast of Texas, capable of directly berthing and loading very large crude carriers (VLCCs). Through this development, the project aims to address issues that have arisen from existing transportation methods, including cost increases, congestion, and wastewater management. This project is intended to develop critical energy export infrastructure to ensure the stable and efficient supply of U.S. crude oil to overseas markets. Such stable supply is important from the perspectives of economic security and supply chain resilience in both Japan and the U.S. In addition, improved market access for U.S. crude oil is expected to contribute toward diversifying supply sources in Asia, including Japan, easing supply-demand conditions, and strengthening supply chain resilience, while also creating opportunities for Japanese companies to participate in the supply of related equipment and to apply their technologies.
The Government of Japan has indicated that the promotion of this project is aligned with the objectives of the Strategic Investment Initiative, including the promotion of mutual benefits between Japan and the U.S., the enhancement of economic security, and the promotion of economic growth.
