Japan rules out banning energy imports from Russia

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Japan has expressed its inability to align itself with its Western allies to ban energy imports from Russia amid Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

“Japan has limited resources and it is difficult for us to immediately align ourselves with the EU,” Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda told reporters on Wednesday in Washington.

Hagiuda and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi are in the US for bilateral meetings, Kyodo News reported.

Hagiuda said he told US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm that each country has a “different energy security situation and each country's stance is important.”

“It is necessary for countries to do what they can do to keep pace,” he said.

Tokyo has joined the US, UK and other allies in punishing Moscow over the Ukraine war. Hundreds of Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, besides companies and organizations, have been sanctioned by Japan.

In a tit-for-tat move, Russia on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 63 Japanese senior officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

EU is also mulling banning all oil imports from Russia by the end of this year.

During meetings in the US capital, Tokyo and Washington noted “the importance of maintaining energy security” as the Ukraine war continues to destabilize global energy supplies.

Japan also asked Washington to increase liquefied natural gas output to reduce dependence on Russian imports, Hagiuda said, adding: “Japan is considering providing loans to Japanese firms which take part in the US LNG projects.”

Japan imported around 3.6 % of its crude oil and 8.8% of its LNG from Russia last year.​​​​​​​