Deliveries of Russian gas to China through Kazakhstan could be too costly, according to Zhang Hanhui, the Chinese Ambassador to Russia.
«The supply of gas from Russia through Kazakhstan isn’t feasible because there is only one gas pipeline, and it’s already full. If we were to transport Russian gas through this route, we would need to build a new pipeline,» Zhang commented.
He added that while Moscow has considered constructing a new pipeline, its implementation is unlikely. As an alternative, the ambassador proposed delivering liquefied natural gas (LNG) or exporting fuel via the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline.
Work on the Power of Siberia-2 project began five years ago. It is designed to run through Russian and Mongolian territory. However, negotiations have hit a snag, as Russia is dissatisfied with China’s offer to purchase gas at low prices.
Despite these challenges, discussions between Russia and China regarding fuel pricing continue, Zhang confirmed.
In 2024, Russia delivered around 23 billion cubic meters of gas to China through the original Power of Siberia pipeline, marking a 1.5-fold increase year-over-year.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Gazprom is exiting a project in Uzbekistan.
