Japan has reaffirmed that crude oil and natural gas imports from overseas—including Russia—remain critical to the country’s energy security. Speaking to Reuters, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry emphasized the strategic importance of the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project located in Russia’s Far East.
Energy Security Comes First for Japan
In its statement, the ministry noted:
“Securing energy from overseas, including the Sakhalin Project, is extremely important for Japan’s energy security. We will take necessary measures to ensure Japan’s stable energy supply is not compromised.”
This response came after Reuters asked about the latest U.S. sanctions on Rosneft, Russia’s largest oil producer and a major shareholder in Sakhalin-1—a project in which Japan’s economy ministry also holds a stake. The development was previously operated by ExxonMobil before the company exited Russia in 2022.
Sakhalin-1 Ownership Structure Remains Intact
The current ownership breakdown of Sakhalin-1 is:
- Rosneft – 20%
- India’s ONGC Videsh – 20%
- Japanese consortium (economy ministry + several Japanese energy firms) – 30%
Following the sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Japan’s government and participating companies were granted exemptions due to the country’s heavy reliance on imported energy.
Why Japan Cannot Easily Exit Russian Energy
Japanese officials have repeatedly said that completely cutting ties with Russian oil and gas would be extremely challenging. Beyond Sakhalin-1, which supplies crude oil to Japan, the country also depends on liquefied natural gas from Sakhalin-2.
Key facts:
- Russian LNG accounts for around 9% of Japan’s total LNG imports.
- Major utility JERA receives LNG from Sakhalin-2 under long-term contracts expiring in 2026 and 2029.
Tokyo Pushes Back on Calls to Abandon Russian Energy
Last month, after President Donald Trump urged Japan to halt purchases of Russian energy commodities, Japanese officials stood firm. The economy minister reiterated that while Japan has been gradually reducing its dependence on Russian supplies, an immediate or complete exit is not feasible without risking energy stability.