According to WPB, Japan has recently resumed the importation of Russian-origin crude oil, marking the first such purchase since early 2023. The move comes amid growing concerns over maintaining consistent operations at its LNG facilities, which play a critical role in meeting the nation’s energy demands.
In response to a formal request by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japanese energy firm Taiyo Oil has procured a shipment of 600,000 barrels of Sakhalin Blend crude oil. A spokesperson for the company confirmed the transaction, emphasizing that the purchase was made to support uninterrupted gas production from the Sakhalin LNG plant, which supplies liquefied natural gas to Japan.
While Japan had previously halted crude imports from Russia in 2023 due to geopolitical tensions and international sanctions, a unique exemption granted by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) permits imports specifically from the Sakhalin-2 project. This waiver remains valid until 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 28, 2025, as long as the crude is exclusively destined for Japan.
Sakhalin-2 primarily produces natural gas, and its crude oil is a secondary byproduct. Earlier this year, Japanese authorities encouraged local refiners to evaluate the possibility of sourcing crude from Sakhalin to prevent disruptions at the LNG facility. In alignment with this guidance, Taiyo Oil followed through by purchasing a cargo intended to support energy supply stability across the country.
Despite the fact that the shipment arrived aboard the Voyager, an Aframax-class tanker listed under U.S. and EU sanctions, the delivery did not violate any regulations. Since imports of Sakhalin-2 byproduct crude to Japan fall under the scope of the U.S. exemption and are not subjected to EU secondary sanctions, the transaction proceeded without legal consequence.
The Voyager reached the port of Kikuma earlier this week, completed its unloading, and departed shortly thereafter, as confirmed by LSEG maritime tracking data.
This development reflects Japan’s strategic balancing act—navigating geopolitical constraints while safeguarding national energy security through carefully controlled resource acquisition.
By Bitumenmag
Bitumen, Petroleum, LNG, Crude
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