MaterialsEnergy sector looks to older technology for synthetic alternativeA liquefied hydrogen terminal built by Kawasaki Heavy in Kobe, Japan. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)EISAKU NITTAJuly 18, 2026 06:54 JSTTOKYO -- Kawasaki Heavy Industries is proposing alternative technologies for using hydrogen to produce naphtha, a petrochemical used in a wide range of plastics and inks, as the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt Japan's industries.