A spearhead group of Japan’s members of parliament will suggest that the government considers a project of gas pipeline construction from Sakhalin to the Tokyo Bay within the framework of the new plan of economic cooperation with Russia, Kyodo news agency said on Monday.
Members of parliament intend to present the relevant proposal to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Economy Minister Hiroshige Seko, Kyodo reported.
Total length of the gas pipeline is about 1,500 km and the project is valued at 700 bln yen ($6.7 bln). According to the suggested design, the gas pipeline will be mainly laid offshore, with landfalls on the Hokkaido Island and in Ibaraki Prefecture not far from Tokyo.
Japan is currently buying liquefied natural gas (LNG) only and is it globally largest importer. The pipeline from Sakhalin will be capable of delivering 20 bln cubic meters of natural gas yearly, approximately 17% of recent volume of LNG imported by Japan.