The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced its intention to maintain participation in energy projects on Sakhalin

Japan plans to maintain its participation in the oil and gas projects being implemented on Sakhalin, as they are important for the country's energy security. This follows from the annual report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan "Blue Book on Diplomacy", distributed on April 8 by the press service of the department.

"The Japanese government adheres to the policy of preserving its interests in the Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 oil and natural gas development projects in Russia, as these projects are important for Japan's energy security in terms of ensuring stable supplies in the medium and long term," the report says.

In addition, the document notes that, despite the difficult relations, the Japanese government is determined to conclude a peace treaty with Russia on the ownership of the Kuril Islands.

"The government remains committed to solving the problem of the northern territories (as the southern Kuril Islands of Russia are called in Japan. — Ed.) and the conclusion of a peace treaty," the publication says.

At the same time, the agency emphasizes that one of the priorities remains the resumption of the exchange program with the southern part of the Kuril Islands, especially visits by former Japanese residents to the graves of their ancestors.

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In a published report last year, the Japanese government also announced its intention to retain a stake in Russian oil and gas projects. At that time, the ministry noted that Japan was seeking to reduce its dependence on coal and oil from Russia.

Sakhalin-1 is one of the largest offshore investment projects in the Russian Federation. It provides for the development of offshore oil and gas fields — Chaivo, Odoptu-more, Arkutun-Dagi and Lebedinskoye, located on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island in the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Sakhalin-2 is another large integrated oil and gas project, which operates an oil and gas infrastructure for the extraction, transportation and processing of hydrocarbons. The project is developing two deposits in the Sea of Okhotsk.