Newsfrom Japan
Jan 29, 2026 18:05 (JST)
Tokyo, Jan. 29 (Jiji Press)–It is difficult for Japan to give up Russian liquefied natural gas, despite stepped-up sanctions by the United States and Europe, Japan Gas Association leader Takashi Uchida has said.
Securing alternative suppliers will not be easy since Russian LNG has an “economic advantage,” Uchida, also chairman of Tokyo Gas Co., said in a recent interview, emphasizing the importance of continuing procurement of it.
About 10 pct of Japan’s LNG imports come from Russia, mostly from the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project in the country’s Far East.
The United States urged Japan to halt energy imports from Russia, including LNG from the Sakhalin-2 project, in October last year.
Washington last December announced a six-month extension of an exemption allowing Japan to continue importing LNG from the Russian project.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]