Japan will begin releasing its national petroleum reserves starting March 26. ▲ Oil storage tanks located in Kobe, Japan (image source: CCTV News client)

According to reports from CCTV, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae announced during a cabinet meeting on the Middle East situation on March 24 that the release of national petroleum reserves will commence on March 26.

Additionally, Takaichi Sanae stated that the release of the "joint reserves of oil-producing countries" stored domestically by Middle Eastern oil-producing nations is also expected to begin within March.