“We are aware of the decree of the President of Russia,” RIA Novosti quotes him.
According to him, the infringement of Japan's rights in the field of minerals should not be allowed.
“Currently, we are 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,” Kihara said.
He added that he could not yet say what steps would be taken in response.
Earlier it was reported that the Cabinet of Ministers of Russia will enable foreign shareholders to retain their stakes in the new Sakhalin-2 operator, which will be a Russian LLC instead of the current Sakhalin Energy.
If the shareholders refuse, the state will be able to sell their shares, and transfer the proceeds from the sale to special accounts opened in the names of the shareholders.
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.