" Business head questions reluctance of pulling out of Russian energy projects " 16 March 2022

The head of a Japanese business lobby is questioning the reluctance of Japan's government and private sector to withdraw from energy development projects in Russia's Far East. This comes after major Western energy firms decided to pull out of the enterprises following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, Sakurada Kengo, says Japan is not the only country facing energy security issues.

He says he wonders why it is only Tokyo that has refused to make a decision.

Sakurada says " It's an issue of how to deal with countries that don't share the same values with Japan.
I think the government should candidly discuss the matter with private sector officials."

The Japanese public and private sectors have stakes in oil and natural gas projects in Sakhalin.

[...]