U.S. extends waiver allowing Japan to import Russian LNG until Dec.

The U.S. Treasury Department said Thursday it has extended an exemption allowing oil and gas exports from the Sakhalin 2 project in Russia's Far East to Japan until Dec. 18.

The United States tightened sanctions against Russia in response to Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but transactions related to Sakhalin 2 were exempted through June 18 this year.

Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom owns a stake of over 70 percent in Sakhalin 2, while Japanese firms Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corp. hold 12.5 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Liquefied natural gas produced under the Sakhalin 2 project accounted for 8.9 percent of Japan's total LNG imports in 2025.

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