Japan announced the importance of Russia’s decision on Sakhalin-2 for the country

MOSCOW, 1 Aug — PRIME. Japan considers the decision of the Russian authorities to allow the transfer of shares in the new operator of the Sakhalin-2 project to Mitsui & Co and Mitsubishi Corporation “very important from the point of view of Japan’s stable energy supply,” said Japanese government secretary general Hirokazu Matsuno.

Earlier, the Russian government allowed Mitsubishi to transfer a ten percent stake in the new operator of the Sakhalin-2 project. As noted in the order published on the portal of legal information, a ten percent stake in the authorized capital of Sakhalin Energy LLC will be transferred to the company “DGS Japan Co., Ltd.”

“We believe that the decision of the Russian government to allow Mitsui & Co and Mitsubishi Corporation to participate in the activities (of the Sakhalin-2 project – ed.) is very important from the point of view of a stable energy supply to Japan. We are aware that various discussions among shareholders await us ahead, and we We will continue to closely monitor the situation and take all possible measures to ensure a stable supply of liquefied natural gas by combining the efforts of the private and public sectors,” he said at a press conference.

It is recalled that DGS Japan Co., Ltd. — “daughter” of Mitsubishi. At the same time, the Japanese company receives its share in proportion to what it had in the previous operator Sakhalin Energy. Sakhalin Energy needs to prepare documents for the transfer of a share in the authorized capital of this company to DGS Japan Co., Ltd. also stated in the order.

The Japanese Mitsui also sent a request to the Russian side to keep the stake. On August 30, the government approved the request.

On June 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree in connection with the unfriendly actions of foreign states, which ordered to change the operator of the Sakhalin-2 project to a new, Russian, legal entity. In the former operator, Sakhalin Energy, Gazprom owned 50% plus one share, Shell 27.5% minus one share, Mitsui 12.5%, Mitsubishi 10%.

The new operator (OOO Sakhalin Energy) was established on August 5 with a stake in the charter capital of Gazprom Sakhalin Holding. And foreign partners have the right to stay in the project if they announce such a decision before September 5.

As for Shell, the company said earlier on August 31 that it continues to work on withdrawing from the membership of the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company.