THE ENERGY STRATEGY OF JAPAN IN THE CONTEXT OF CENTRAL ASIAN STATES

Аннотация

This article analyzes Japan's relations with Central Asian states regarding energy resources. Due to its limited domestic oil and natural gas reserves, Japan's interests in economic, cultural, security, and political aspects are equally significant. Most researchers focus on Japan's desire for energy cooperation, which the Japanese have highly appreciated. The Japanese government and countries of Central Asia have welcomed the alternative to Russia and the Middle East in ensuring Japan's energy security, as they have rich oil and gas reserves. Japan also wants to buildand develop renewable energy sources incollaboration with these countries. Key words:energy strategy, Silk Road Diplomacy, national energy strategy,gas reserves Introduction. Japan has very limited domestic oil and natural gas reserves, and it is one of the leading countries in importing energy resources. In particular, in 2021, it ranked fifth in the world in terms of energy consumption. Although consumption is expected to grow by 2.3% in 2021, primary energy consumption has been declining over the past decade. While renewables (10%) and nuclear (3%) accounted for the smallest share of Japan's primary energy consumption in 2021, these were the only energy sources to see an increase in their overall share since 2015. In 2022, Japan regained its status as the largest LNG importer despite a 3% decrease in imports from 2021 due to insufficient domestic resources. Japan, which ranked fifth in oil consumption, covered more than 97% of its energy demand through imports in 2022.. In 2022, Japan is expected to overtake China as the world's largest importer of liquefied natural gas. Despite a 3% decrease in imports from 2021, Japan's position as a major importer is still expected to remain strong. [1]. The energy policy of Japan is primarily focused on three key aspects: ensuring energy security, promoting environmental protection, and optimizing economic efficiency. In his presentation, Ken Koyama, a representative from the Institute of Energy Economics, provided a concise definition of "energy security," describing it as the guarantee of a stable and affordable supply of energy resources, which is essential for the sustainable growth of the national economy and the well-being of itscitizens [2]. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is responsible for developing Japan's energy policy. Within METI, the Natural Resources and Energy Agency plays a crucial role in ensuring the rational development of mineral resources, stable energy supply, efficient energy use, and regulation ofelectricity and other energy sectors. According to data including reserves in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, Japan has 5.6 billion tons of oil reserves, accounting for 34% of discovered reserves in CIS countries and 3.5% of world reserves. In terms of gas reserves, Japan has 7.75 trillion cubic meters, representing 3.2%of CIS reserves and 4.3%of world reserves [3]. In August 1997, T. Aso, the head of the Japan's Economic Planning Department, paid a visit to Central Asian countries, laying the groundwork for extensive economic collaboration between Japan and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The primary focus of thediscussionswas on the critical issue of attracting Japanese investments to these economies, particularly in the energy sector. To implement the economic aspect of this new strategy, a delegation from the Keizai https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue4,2025 637 Doyukai, a prominent Japanese business association, traveled to these same countries in September 1997. During this visit, the delegation members gained insights into the economic landscapes of these republics, delving into the challenges of transitioning to market-oriented economies. Most importantly, they established a foundation for future collaborative endeavors.. Drawing on the resource potential of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and considering Uzbekistan as a crucial transit route for these resources, Japan places a particular emphasis on these countries and commitssubstantial funds to theirdevelopment. One of the initial steps towards implementing the concept of "Silk Road diplomacy" was the arrival of a delegation from Keidanren, the Federation of Economic Organizations, in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The primary objective of these discussions was to explore prospects fordeepening cooperation in thedevelopment ofoiland gas reserves. In August 1998, following the change in leadership in Japan with the ascension of Prime Minister Katsuya Obuchi, his administration continued to pursue the path of fostering active collaboration with Central Asian nations.. In January 1999, a groundbreaking document related to the countries in the region was adopted – the "Programme of Action on the Diplomacy of the Silk Road". This programme underscored the imperative of developing and enhancing infrastructure in the region, with a particular focus on providing specialized assistance to the r