Russia has begun developing a new gas pipeline to China via Kazakhstan with an expected annual capacity of 45 billion cubic meters, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak said on Russia 24 TV channel on December 25.
China will receive 35 billion cubic meters per year through this pipeline, while the rest will be supplied to Kazakhstan.
Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak stressed the strategic importance of the project during discussions on bilateral energy cooperation.
“The construction process has been launched,” Novak said, adding that it includes technical and economic feasibility studies as well as negotiations to finalize the agreement framework.
As part of the deal, Kazakhstan – which will host part of the pipeline's infrastructure – is expected to receive up to 10 billion cubic metres of gas per year.
Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev confirmed the country's interest in the project, emphasizing its benefits for the country's energy supply.
“Kazakhstan fully supports this project and will supply gas to our northern regions,” Satkaliyev told reporters.
China is Russia’s largest trading partner and economic cooperation between the two countries has been growing despite unprecedented Western sanctions against Moscow. Bilateral trade is expected to exceed $200 billion by the end of this year, Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov said in October.
Russian energy giant Gazprom reported a new record for daily gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline earlier this month. Under a bilateral agreement, Russia will supply 38 billion cubic meters of gas to China annually via the pipeline starting in 2025.
