Ukrainian NGOs’ appeal to Japanese companies: stop importing ALL Russian fossil fuels (original) (raw)

On 20 June Ukrainian Energy Transition Coalition sent letters to six Japanese companies that continue buying Russian fossil fuels – JFE Steel Corporation, JERA Co., Nippon Steel Corporation, Hokkaido Gas Co., Chubu Electric Power Co. and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.

Japan is the largest importer of Russian coal in the world and the third-largest importer of LNG. This high reliance both contributes to Russia’s export revenues and constitutes a potential security of supply risk to Japan.

Japan imported an estimated EUR 1.9 billion (JPY 250 billion) worth of fossil fuels from Russia in the first 100 days of the invasion of Ukraine. This was made up of 47% LNG, 27% coal, and 26% oil.

In April, it was announced that Japan will gradually phase out its imports of Russian coal, while looking for other sources. Oil imports from Russia into Japan stopped mid-April. LNG imports have continued at pre-invasion levels and coal imports have continued, although the volume fell by 40% from February-March to May.

Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air has identified several Japanese companies that have continued to purchase Russian fossil fuels. They need to stop importing all Russian fossil fuels.

We urge Japanese companies to recognize that fossil fuels in general are prone to geopolitical conflicts and price volatility, and consider investing more in cleaner, safer renewable energy sources going forward. Last month, the Japanese government, as part of the G7, committed to end new public support for international unabated fossil fuels by the end of this year, and to achieve a predominantly decarbonised electricity sector by 2035, indicating the limited future of fossil fuels.

On this note, we, Ukrainian environmental NGOs, urge to ban any and all imports of Russian fossil fuels, including LNG, and divest your interests in Russian fossil fuel companies. The time to stop profiteering from the pariah state that attacks and kills innocent people is now.

Energy Transition Coalition on behalf of Ukrainian NGOs: Ecoaction, Ekoltava, Ecoclub, City of Sun, Khmelnytskyi Energy Cluster, All-Ukrainian Sustainable Development & Investment Agency, PravoPolice, Solar Energy Association of Ukraine, Mykolaiv municipality.

Download documents:

Ukrainian NGOs’ appeal to Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (PDF)
Ukrainian NGOs’ appeal to Hokkaido Gas Co., Ltd. (PDF)
Ukrainian NGOs’ appeal to JERA Co., Inc. (PDF)
Ukrainian NGOs’ appeal to JFE Steel Corporation (PDF)
Ukrainian NGOs’ appeal to Nippon Steel Corporation (PDF)
Ukrainian NGOs’ appeal to Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) (PDF)