TOKYO: Japan will not withdraw from the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 oil and gas projects despite Moscow’s military aggression against Ukraine, a senior government official said Sunday.

The projects have provided Japan with low-cost energy stably for a long period, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary KIHARA Seiji said in a television program. “Relinquishing our country’s concessions in the Sakhalin projects would be disadvantageous in terms of national interest,” he said.

If Japan gives up the stakes and Russia acquires them, Moscow would export energy from the projects at high prices, he said. If the energy is shipped to countries that do not cooperate in imposing sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, that would benefit them, Kihara noted.

Regarding Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio’s  recent announcement of plans for Japan to ban oil imports from Russia, Kihara said, “It is important to be able to secure alternative supplies stably.”

“I can’t say exactly when the ban will be introduced because we plan to take necessary steps in stages while taking time,” Kihara said.

JIJI Press