"Sakhalin 2 becomes a Russian company" Is it shaken by Japan that strengthens economic sanctions?

Russia's President Putin has signed a presidential decree ordering the change of the business entity of "Sakhalin 2" to a newly established Russian company, which is aimed at shaking Japan with increasing economic sanctions among Japanese government officials. There is a view that there is.

On the 30th, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree ordering the government to change the business entity of "Sakhalin 2", which is also funded by a major Japanese trading company, to a newly established Russian company.

This presidential directive is based on a law that limits the use of natural resources produced in Russia to Russian corporations, etc., and there is a possibility that major Japanese trading companies with interests in "Sakhalin 2" will not be involved in the operation in the future. There is also.

LNG = liquefied natural gas imported from "Sakhalin 2" accounts for nearly 10% of Japan's total imports, and the government has indicated that it will not withdraw as it is essential for a stable domestic supply.

For this reason, there is a view among government officials that Russia's response this time is aimed at shaking Japan with LNG as a weapon against Japan, where Russia is tightening economic sanctions.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hagiuda told reporters on July 1 that this presidential decree is not a "requisition" that forcibly takes up the interests of Japanese companies, but it handles the interests of Japanese companies and imports LNG. It shows the idea of ​​carefully assessing the impact on.

Russian energy expert "some kind of retaliation against the Japanese government"

"It would be some kind of retaliation against the Japanese government supporting Ukraine," said Mikhail Kurtihin, a Russian energy expert who lives outside Russia.

He also said that if the necessary technology and equipment could not be obtained from overseas partner companies, it would have a great impact on the project. I pointed out that it was a measure.

He also said that Russia may take retaliation measures against countries that it considers unfriendly in other projects in the future.