Public Finance and Environment

Project Location:

Sakhalin State, Russia

Project Owner

: Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd.(SEIC), a consortium of Royal Dutch Shell(55%), Mitsui & Co., Ltd.(25%) and Mitsubishi Corporation(20%).

Finance Institutions:

[Phase 1] Export-Import Bank of Japan (now the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, JBIC), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Overseas Private Investment Corporation
[Phase 2] JBIC

Total Operation Costs

: Originally said to be JPY1.2 trillion, but SEIC announced the costs to have doubled to JPY2.2 trillion in July, 2005.

Project Overview

: The project plans to extract petroleum and natural gas from the northeastern shore of Sakhalin. The first phase has been completed and has started production in 1999. Uses an oil-rig called Molikpaq to extract crude oil, and transports it by tanker to Japan and Korea. However, transport by tanker is impeded by ice during the winter, and there is a plan to construct an 800km buried pipeline on land for the second phase of the project. There are also plans to construct an additional two platforms, a submarine pipeline, a processing facility on land, and a petroleum exporting terminal and liquid natural gas plant on the southern part of the island.

There are six projects from "Sakhalin I" to "Sakhalin VI" planned for development on and around Sakhalin Island, but the two currently under development are "I" and "II." In the second phase, petroleum production was planned to start at the end of 2006 and natural gas production from 2007, but SEIC announced in July, 2005 that the projected start date of production is likely to be delayed until the middle of 2008. Estimated extractable petroleum is 100 million tons, extractable consensate is 40 million tons, and extractable natural gas is 400 billion square meters.

Impacts on the lives of indigenous people of Sakhalin State, wildlife, and also fishery resources due to this development are apprehended. Migratory birds that spend the winter in Hokkaido, and large scale oil spill accidents are a concern.

Involvements with Japan

Involvement of Public Funding Institution: Export-Import Bank of Japan gave a loan of US$1.16 million for phase one of the project. JBIC, along with a group of private banks, signed a US$5.3 billion loan for phase two.

Involvement of Japanese Firms: Mitsui & Co. Ltd. And Mitsubishi Corporation invest in the project operator, SEIC. The percent investments for the first phase were Marathon Oil Corporation(37.5%), Shell (25%), Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (25%), Mitsubishi Corporation (12.5%) became Royal Dutch Shell(55%), Mitsui & Co., Ltd.(25%) and Mitsubishi Corporation(20%) with the withdrawal of Marathon Oil in 2000.

Geological Connections: Sakhalin Island is only about 40 km from Hokkaido, and environmental and social impacts to the eastern shores of Hokkaido, including the world heritage Shiretoko, is a cause for concern.

Timeline

Oil and gas deposits are discovered on the northeastern continental shelf of Sakhalin Island. (The mainly oil Piltun-Astokh deposit, and the mainly gas Lunskoye deposit)

Sakhalin Energy Investment Corporation (SEIC) is founded

Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) is signed between the project operator SEIC and the Russian Government and Sakhalin State Administration.

Begin petroleum deposit assessment for the Piltun-Astokh deposit.

Arrival of Molikpaq

Start production of crude oil at Astokh deposit

Public hearing for the second phase development held by SEIC

NGO Sakhalin Environment Watch holds public hearing

SEIC hands in Technical and Economic Substantiation of Construction (TEOC) which includes the EIA to the Russian Government

Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) disclosed

Russian government approves TEOC, requests loans to JBIC and EBRD

Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine presents a statement showing concern over the impacts on wildlife.

SEIC holds project explanation meeting in Sapporo and Tokyo.
Ministry of Environment Japan suggests a joint research of Stellar's Sea Eagle and Dunlin to Russia at the Japan-Russia meeting for the protection and research of migratory birds.

SEIC dumps about 150 square meters of dirt dredged for the construction of a plant into Aniva Bay

Japanese wildlife specialist inspects the environmental impact assessment (EIA) created by SEIC

The Hokkaido government presents a letter to SEIC requesting consideration for the environment

The president of EBRD shows discontent with the response from SEIC and the current condition at the annual general meeting

EBRD and JBIC hold an environment related opinion exchange meeting concerning Sakhalin II at Tokyo and Sapporo

The International Union for Conserving Nature (IUCN) establishes an independent panel to research the impacts on the western gray whale

Dredging ship contracted by SEIC is stranded near the shore of Kholmsk due to a typhoon. 200 tons of heavy oil is spilled

JBIC sets up an environment related forum for Sakhalin II phase 2.

Indigenous people of Sakhalin block road in protest of oil and gas development

IUCN independent panel publishes the report on western gray whales

Sakhalin citizens and NGO protest against Aniva Bay pollution
SEIC announces change in submarine pipeline route

SEIC admits to insufficient management of contractor of pipeline construction

Indigenous people of Sakhalin once again block road in protest of oil and gas development.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announces postponement of funding for environmental reasons.

Supplementary EIA disclosed in English and Russian

Sakhalin citizens and people connected to the fishing industry protest to health and fishery damage in front of the LNG plant

Japanese translation of the supplementary EIA disclosed

SEIC announces first five year plan (2006-2010) of the indigenous people development plan.
Japanese Wildlife Researcher announces "Report on the Investigation of the Supplementary EIA"

Natural Resource Department of Russia decides on revocation of phase 2 construction approval due to violation of environment laws (not issued)

Gazprom acquires majority share of Sakhalin II

EBRD stops consideration of loans with change in project operator

US-EXIM and ECGD stops loan considerations

June

JBIC and a group of private banks signs agreement to loan JPY5.3 billion for Sakhalin II phase 2

Major Points of Concern

Concerns Over Endangered Species
-There are concerns over serious impacts on precious wildlife including the Stellar's Sea Eagle (passes winter in Hokkaido. A natural monument, and listed in the Japan-Russia migratory bird treaty and preservation of species law) and western gray whale (approximately 100 individuals left. Designated as an endangered species by the IUCN, Fisheries Agency, and the Mammalogical Society of Japan.) from development and oil spills. Measure to avoid such impacts are not sufficient.
-Japanese wildlife specialist points out mistakes and insufficiencies in the EIA created by SEIC.

Measures against Oil Spills
-Serious impacts on fishery resource that support the local economy of Hokkaido and Sakhalin, and damage to the local society due to oil pill accidents.
-Many problems such as measure against oil spills due to earthquakes, measures against oil spills when the sea is frozen, and impacts of dispersion agents on the natural environment remain because the oil spill response plan (OSRP) for facilities to be constructed during phase 2 will not be complete until just before the start of operation.
-Problems with the reporting structure in case of tanker accidents and smooth cooperation between Russia and Japan.

Pipeline
-Concerns of land erosion and water pollution due to construction as the 800km long land pipeline is buried crossing over 1000 important rivers and streams for salmon and trout habitat.
-Concerns of damage and oil spills due to earthquakes as the pipeline route crosses 22 active faults.

Dredging and Marine Dumping in Aniva Bay
-Damage to fishery resource due to dredging and dirt dumping accompanying the construction of LNG plants and crude oil terminals.
-Insufficient consideration of alternative locations for dumping.

Social and Economical Impacts
-Serious impacts on the lives of the indigenous and local people.
-Inequality in the production sharing agreement (problems to the economical profits of Sakhalin)
-Violation of Russian laws
-Insufficient information sharing and discussion with stakeholders