View of Tokyo at night. File photoTOKYO, Jul 1 Japan is studying the impact of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree on the Sakhalin-2 project, Seiji Kihara, Deputy Secretary General of the Government, said at a press conference.
"We know about the decree of the President of Russia. Arguing from a general position, it is impossible to allow infringement of the rights of our country in the field of minerals. We are currently studying the issue of what will happen to the share of Japanese enterprises in the "Sakhalin-2" project, as well as the issue of the impact on LNG imports to Japan. So I can't answer at the moment about our next steps. The decree was signed yesterday, so while we are studying the goals of the Russian side and the background, so what steps we will take and what steps each of the companies will take, I cannot say now", — said the deputy General Secretary.
He noted that Japan is now studying «the goals and the background» on the basis of which such a decision was made. Putin signed a decree on special economic measures in the fuel and energy sector in connection with the unfriendly actions of foreign states. The decree prescribes the change of the operator of the large oil and gas project «Sakhalin-2» to a new legal entity, which will transfer the rights and obligations of Sakhalin Energy. The property of Sakhalin Energy will be transferred to the ownership of the Russian Federation with simultaneous transfer for free use to the new Sakhalin-2 operator. In Sakhalin Energy, Gazprom owns 50% plus one share, Shell — 27.5% minus one share, Japanese Mitsui and Mitsubishi — 12.5% and 10% respectively. Gazprom retains its stake, while foreigners must declare a month in advance whether they agree to accept the same stake in the new operator. Then the Russian government will decide in three days whether to transfer or refuse. The untransferred shares will be sold, and the foreigners will receive the proceeds in a special account minus the damage they have caused.The operator of Sakhalin-2 will be replaced due to violations of obligations under the SRPP. Putin ordered to change the operator of the large oil and gas project Sakhalin-2 to a new legal entity, which will receive the rights and obligations of Sakhalin Energy. The property of Sakhalin Energy will be transferred to the ownership of the Russian Federation with simultaneous transfer for free use to the new operator «Sakhalin-2». oil) and Lunskoye (mainly gas). The infrastructure includes three offshore platforms, an integrated onshore processing facility, an oil export terminal and an LNG plant with a design capacity of 9.6 million tons per year. The operator is Sakhalin Energy, in which Gazprom owns 50% plus one share, Shell owns 27.5% minus one share, Mitsui & Co. Ltd — 12.5%, Mitsubishi Corporation — 10%. Shell at the end of February announced its decision to withdraw from joint ventures with Gazprom and Gazprom Neft, including Sakhalin-2, Yenisei and Salym Petroleum, and also stop participating in Nord Stream 2. According to Shell, last quarter the company should lose from 4 to 5 billion dollars in connection with the termination of this activity in Russia. Japanese companies and the government of the country emphasized their intention to remain in the project, as participation in it allows for a stable supply of energy resources. in the new operator «Sakhalin-2»