Gazprom negotiations on the construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to Japan may take place in Tokyo in mid-December, the Japanese Kyodo agency reported, citing informed sources.

According to them, the Gazprom leadership visit to Japan within these period is under consideration. During the visit the issue of the pipeline construction between the two countries to be discussed. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit Japan and hold a Russian-Japanese economic forum on December 16 in Tokyo.

In Japan, the idea of laying a gas pipe from Sakhalin has not been approved yet, "considering the high cost of the project and unclear prospects for demand," but the Russian party, according to Kyodo sources, insists on its own and requests the assistance of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, JBIC.

It is assumed that the gas pipeline will ensure stable gas supplies from the Russian Federation to Japan. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, according to Kyodo, has checked the interest of Japanese companies in this issue, but there was no active tending.

Gas deliveries via the pipeline have an advantage in terms of low cost, but Japan, being the largest importer of natural gas, does not deliver gas via the pipelines. However, the agency reports that among the deputies of the Japanese parliament and experts of Japan there are now voices in favor of the construction of the gas pipeline conditioned with the need to diversify energy supplies. Kyodo nevertheless found out that the construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to Japan is not on the list of 30 priority cooperation projects that were recently worked out in Moscow with the participation of Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.