Gasprom considers the proposal to build the gas pipeline to Japan, Gasprom President Aleksei Miller told journalists. “Japan has submitted the proposal to build the gas pipeline to Hokkaido and, possibly, Tokyo, and on our involvement in gas distribution and electric energy market of Japan. The projects are under consideration. We have not responded yet,” Miller said.
TACC quoted Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak as saying that the project to build the gas pipeline from Russia to Japan is economically groundless. “We have contacts and intergovernmental agreement, but, unfortunately, the project to build the gas pipeline is economically groundless. As a liquefied natural gas consumer, Japan has the law, which allows using LNG to generate heat. There are no detailed reasons for the gas pipelines construction. If we have the reasons, then Russia will be ready to consider them,” said Minister.
According to the Japanese experts’ evaluations, total length of the gas pipeline from Sakhalin to the adjoining to Tokyo prefecture Ibaraki will be 1350 km. The costs for its construction are estimated at less than $6 billion.
