The 1,400km long offshore pipeline is proposed to start from Russia’s Sakhalin Island and transport natural gas to Tokyo, reported Asahi Shimbun Newspaper.
The three companies have performed an initial feasibility study of the project and are planning to proceed with the other details, discussions, and negotiations with the local government.
Construction of the pipeline project is estimated to take about five to seven years to complete.
Japan is facing an increase in demand for natural gas after it has reduced its dependency on nuclear power following the earthquake triggered Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster in March 2011.
