“Japan cannot stop importing Russian LNG due to the sharp rise in energy prices and limited opportunities in the field of nuclear energy,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times.
Hashimoto noted that gas purchased from Russia is needed to meet basic electricity needs.
On June 30, the Russian president signed a decree on the application of special economic measures in the fuel and energy sector in connection with the unfriendly actions of a number of countries.
According to the decree, the property of Sakhalin Energy will be transferred to the ownership of Russia with simultaneous transfer to the free use of the new operator Sakhalin-2.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, commenting on the decree, said that Tokyo needs to consider further steps together with companies.
In early June, it was reported that Japanese national companies would retain their participation in the Russian investment projects Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2, as this is extremely important for the country's economic security.