Japanese energy companies have stated the possibility of refusing Russian gas, which they have been purchasing in large volumes throughout the years of the war in Ukraine.
Major Japanese energy companies JERA, Tohoku Electric Power, and Kyushu Electric Power, which purchase Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Sakhalin-2 project, have stated the possibility of managing without these supplies. This was reported by the American agency Reuters.
The demands to refuse Russian gas are being made by the U.S., which hopes to force Moscow into negotiations over Ukraine through restrictions on energy resource exports.
Meanwhile, contracts with Sakhalin-2 cover about nine percent of Japan's imports. JERA receives two million tons of LNG each year under two contracts and also handles an additional 30-35 million tons of LNG. The company assures that it will be able to take action if the execution of agreements is suspended.
Tohoku's contract with the Russian project expires in 2030, but in case of force majeure, the company may increase purchases from the U.S. Kyushu receives about 500,000 tons of LNG under an agreement that will expire in 2031. If there are disruptions in supplies, the company will try to increase purchases under other contracts and enter the spot market.
According to sources from the agency, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump that refusing Russian LNG would be difficult for the country.
Earlier, it was reported that the U.S. ally does not want to refuse Russian gas.
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