Japan will maintain Russia oil and gas projects: economy minister

Koichi Hagiuda cites energy security as reason to stay in Sakhalin and Arctic

Japan says it is prioritizing energy security in declaring it will not withdraw from three Russian energy projects, including this one off the coast of Sakhalin, north of Hokkaido. © Kyodo

Nikkei staff writers

April 1, 2022 12:42 JST

TOKYO -- Japan "does not intend to withdraw" from oil and liquefied natural gas development projects in Russia, trade minister Koichi Hagiuda told reporters on Friday, as it makes a choice between energy security and further tightening sanctions on Russia for the war in Ukraine.

Japanese trading and other companies have invested in the Sakhalin-1, Sakhalin-2 and Arctic LNG 2 (ARC 2) projects. Each has been deemed essential to Japan's energy security.