In March of 2009, Iwatani, in conjunction with Saudi Aramco, established the “Saudi Aramco-Iwatani Emergency LP Gas Relief Program.”

Saudi Aramco, the state-owned national oil company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is considered to be the world’s largest oil company in terms of crude oil reserves held, crude oil production, and export of crude oil. Utilizing this fund, since July they have been contributing gas heat pump (GHP) air conditioning facilities to 4 locations in the areas hit by the disastrous earthquake where emergency shelters and public facilities have been established.

The fund was established with capital amounting to $2 million, with each firm putting up half. The purpose of the fund was to enable Iwatani and Saudi Aramco to supply portable gas stoves and gas canisters free of charge as emergency assistance items to areas in Japan hit by major natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. The items supplied to areas in Japan hit by the recent disastrous earthquake marks the first time this assistance has been rendered. Already about 22,000 portable gas stoves and about 120,000 gas canisters have been contributed.