Recently, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin led a delegation to Tokyo, Japan, and paid a three-day visit to Japan. He mainly discussed the future cooperation on oil, natural gas and civilian nuclear energy between the two countries.
Putin's Energy Journey
Before Putin’s visit to Japan, it was widely speculated that the purpose of Putin’s visit to Japan was not to seek a substantive breakthrough in the territorial dispute between the two countries in order to ease the unrest caused by the territorial issues of the two countries.
Putin’s deputy chief of staff Yuriu Shashakov said earlier that the territorial disputes between Russia and Japan are long-standing and that they are incompatible with the ownership of the South Kuril Islands (known as the Northern Territory of Japan). This is a matter left over from history. Do not It is believed that one visit will be able to solve, and there should not be too much hope for the Prime Minister's visit to Japan.
Representatives of Mr. Putin’s visit to Japan, with the exception of government officials, are mostly representatives of large-scale energy companies in Russia’s economic and trade circles, Alexander Shaoxin, chairman of the Russian Federation of Industrial and Entrepreneurs, Alexei, president of Gazprom. Miller et al.
Judging from the schedule of Putin’s visit to Japan, Putin mainly met with leading figures in the Japanese business community. Putin said at the Japan Economic Forum in Japan organized by the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations on the 12th: “The energy and fuel sector is still a priority project. Cooperation in this field is of crucial significance for the stable supply of energy to countries in the Asia Pacific region.â€
Putin also stated that the historical dispute between Russia and Japan should not become a stumbling block to the strong economic development of the two countries. The economic complementarity between the two countries is very strong. Japan lacks resources but has advanced technology, while Russia's oil is rich but its technology is backward. The two countries can fully complement each other and achieve mutual benefit and mutual benefit.
It is not difficult to see that Putin’s visit to the main energy brand aims to attract Japan’s investment in major energy projects in Russia’s Far East and other regions. Because in the economic crisis situation, Russia suffered severe damage and there was a shortage of funds in energy development. In particular, the oil and gas projects under construction in the Sakhalin region of the Far East are in urgent need of large sums of money.
Urged Japanese Companies to Increase Investment in Russia
When speaking at the Japan Economic Forum in Japan on the 12th, Putin said that in recent years, the economic and trade relations between Russia and Japan have been continuously strengthened, and bilateral trade between the two countries has increased from 10 billion U.S. dollars in 2005 to 30 billion U.S. dollars last year. Putin also said: "Our economic relations have entered a new stage and the prospects will be brighter. Russia stands ready to hold direct dialogues with Japanese companies."
Putin called on Japan to participate in the construction of Russia’s oil and natural gas pipelines and other energy projects to develop energy in the Far East region, and stressed that Moscow is ready to conduct dialogues with Japanese companies.
Against the concerns of some Japanese companies about trade protectionism in the context of the economic crisis, Putin reiterated his determination to combat trade protectionism and ensure free trade.
Putin also stated that achieving close economic cooperation between the two countries is particularly important for the current global economic crisis, building a good cooperation environment, and creating new jobs.
Sign energy cooperation project
Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement On May 12, Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso held talks and signed an agreement between the two governments on civilian nuclear energy cooperation, paving the way for Japan’s exports of civilian nuclear power technology to Russia and Russia’s sale of nuclear fuel to Japan.
It is reported that this commercial contract is worth billions of dollars and opens the door for cooperation between Russian companies and Japanese companies in the field of nuclear power, such as uranium mining.
This contract will greatly expand the cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy. On the one hand, Russia can provide more low-enriched uranium to the Japanese market; on the other hand, Japan provides advanced nuclear power technology, and the two energy companies jointly fund the establishment of a joint venture to jointly build new nuclear power plants and fuel storage plants. To meet Japan's growing energy needs.
Oilfield Exploitation Contracts Japan National Petroleum Corporation and Russia’s Irkutsk Petroleum Corporation have reached an agreement to jointly develop two oil fields in the Eastern Siberia region. The two sides agreed to establish a joint venture company, with Japan and Russia accounting for 49% and 51% respectively. The initial cost of this project is about 15 billion yen.
It is reported that the two oil fields are located in the northern part of Baikal in Irkutsk region in central Russia. Preliminary estimates indicate that the oil reserves can reach several hundred million barrels, and it is expected to enter the commercial operation stage in 2013, which requires an investment of 15 billion yen (approximately 1.54 billion yen). Billion US dollars), seismic research and testing drilling will be carried out around 2010.
Natural gas cooperation Russia has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese companies on the joint development of natural gas projects in Russia’s Far East region.
Gazprom President Miller stated that Russia has started negotiations with Mitsui Property Co. on the development of Chayandinskoye gas field with reserves of 1.26 trillion cubic meters. Gazprom plans to develop it from 2016 to meet the demand for natural gas in the eastern part of Russia. Miller also stated that Gazprom has started negotiations on the Shtokman project in the Barents Sea and Mitsui.
In addition, Russia and Japan have also reached an equipment sale agreement, and Japan has promised to provide production equipment to a gas plant to be built in Tatarstan. At the same time, Japanese companies such as Shuangri Corporation and Mitsubishi will also participate in the construction of this project.
At the same time, according to Russian officials, the two countries also signed several other commercial contracts, including cooperation in banks, hydropower plants, and wind power plants.
Fujio Mitarai, chairman of Japan's most influential business lobbying group, the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations, said that the development of Russia’s Far East region is crucial to Japan and can ensure Japan’s stable energy supply. Because about 40% of the gas and oil in Sakhalin area are transported to the Japanese market.
Zhang Fujifu stressed that it is very important for Japan and Russia, two big energy countries, to maintain good commercial and trade relations. He also mentioned the Sakhalin liquefied natural gas project that has just started construction. The first batch of liquefied gas has arrived in Japan in February of this year.
He also said: "Although our bilateral relations are now very stable, Russia has great potential for development and there is room for further expansion of bilateral relations."