Japan is considering measures to limit imports of Russian coal, signaling a possible policy shift by one of the world’s largest energy importers, Bloomberg reported.

Japan “will seek to end coal imports from Russia” as part of a long-term goal and over time will use energy conservation, other forms of generation and supplies from alternative sources to reduce its dependence on Russian Federation, Commerce Minister Koichi Hagiuda said Friday. The government has previously objected to cutting energy ties with Moscow because of its heavy reliance on imported fuel.

Japan is the world’s third-largest importer of coal and gets about 13 percent of its total supply from Russia.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said last week that the country would not withdraw from joint oil and gas projects with Russia, citing the need for energy security.

Germany also plans to completely phase out Russian coal, which will take 4 months to complete. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany must meet the 120-day deadline given by the European Union to member states to completely phase out Russian coal imports. “I believe it will be necessary to use this transition period,” he said after a meeting with the heads of Germany’s federal states.

Scholz added: “If it is possible to do it faster, good. But we and companies need time to prepare, we need time to find new sources, companies are already doing it.”

As reported, the committee of permanent representatives of EU countries in Brussels (COREPER) agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia, the publication of which will take place on Friday.

The sanctions provide for “freezing the assets of a number of Russian banks, a ban on imports of coal from Russia, an embargo on the supply of arms to Russia, a ban on exports to Russia, in particular, high-tech goods worth 10 billion euros”.

In addition, it is indicated that the sanctions will affect Russian cargo transportation. Under the new package of sanctions, access of Russian ships to EU ports will be closed and a ban on imports of a number of Russian goods will be imposed, sanctions will be imposed against individuals, in particular, “oligarchs and people involved in propaganda activities”, as well as against companies in the field of industry and technology related to the Russian special operation in Ukraine.