Europe used to be an important market for Russian oil and gas, but Russian pipeline exports to Europe nearly halved last year due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and U.S. and Western sanctions. Although no other details about the new pipeline have been revealed at this time, a Reuters analysis suggests that it will help Russia increase gas sales to Asia. In late 2022, Russia separately initiated discussions with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on the creation of a gas union to supply Central Asian countries and third-country markets, including China, the Moscow Times reported
Russia plans to send about 35 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China through Kazakhstan each year," Kazakhstan's ambassador to Russia, Dauren Abaev, said in a recent interview with the Russian news agency TASS, adding that Russia plans to build a pipeline to send natural gas to China through Kazakhstan, and that the construction time, gas price, and other details of the plan are still being negotiated.
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The details of the plan have not yet been determined and are still under negotiation.
We want to take full advantage of our transportation potential," Abayev said, as reported by TASS. The roadmap has been signed. We are talking about supplying 35 billion cubic meters of gas (per year) to China. This will allow gasification of Kazakhstan's eastern and northeastern regions."
Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Russia Abaev, photo from TASS
Asked about further details of the plans in question, Abaev revealed that the roadmap has been signed and "now the process of negotiating the price is under way ...... In general, there is a desire, there is an understanding, and some details are still under discussion."
He did not say when Russian gas deliveries to China via Kazakhstan could reach 35 billion cubic meters per year in the future.
According to Reuters, the construction of this new Russian gas pipeline to China via Kazakhstan would be disclosed for the first time.
The volume of the new pipeline described by Abaev will be comparable to the current Russian-Chinese eastern gas pipeline "Siberian Power."
Since 2019, Russia has been supplying gas to China through the "Power of Siberia" pipeline, with the volume growing year by year and expected to reach 38 billion cubic meters per year by 2025, with a contract term of 30 years.
Europe used to be an important market for Russian oil and gas, but Russian pipeline exports to Europe nearly halved last year due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and U.S. and Western sanctions. Although no other details about the new pipeline have been revealed at this time, a Reuters analysis suggests that it will help Russia increase gas sales to Asia.
In late 2022, Russia separately initiated discussions with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on the creation of a gas union to supply Central Asian countries and third-country markets, including China, the Moscow Times reported.
Earlier, Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry said Russian gas shipments through Kazakhstan will increase to 11 billion cubic meters in 2026, up from 3 billion cubic meters in 2023.
In addition, for years Russia has been discussing with China the construction of the "Siberian Power II" pipeline through Mongolia, designed to transport up to about 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year and considered by foreign media as an important sign that Russia is "moving its gas to China."
Some foreign media regarded this as an important signal for Russia to "turn its gas toward" China.
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