Gazprom preparing to launch supplies to China via Far Eastern route

MOSCOW. April 28 (Interfax) - Russia and China are preparing to launch supplies of Russian gas via another route, from the Russian Far East, Gazprom's press service said following a meeting in Beijing between Gazprom Management Committee Chairman Alexei Miller and CNPC Board Chairman Dai Houliang.

"Preparations continue for the launch of gas supplies to China via the Far Eastern route. Currently, equipment is being installed at the Dalnerechensk gas metering station," Gazprom said. Supplies are scheduled to begin in January 2027 and will amount to up to 12 billion cubic meters per year.

"The parties noted the high reliability and efficient operation of the eastern route in Russia (the Power of Siberia gas pipeline) and in China. This spring, for the second year in a row, scheduled maintenance of the gas infrastructure was carried out without interrupting supplies, which indicates technological flexibility as well as the high demand for Russian gas on the Chinese market," Gazprom said.

Supplies of Russian gas to China via the Power of Siberia gas pipeline began in 2019 from the Chayandinskoye field in Yakutia, and three years later gas began to be transported from the Kovykta field in the Irkutsk region. To date, they have already reached the planned contractual level (38 bcm on an annualized basis). In 2025, supplies via this route amounted to 38.8 bcm of gas, exceeding Gazprom's contractual obligations. An agreement has been reached to increase supplies to 44 bcm per year.

Previously, the parties also signed a legally binding memorandum on the construction of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline and the Soyuz Vostok transit gas pipeline through Mongolia. The route will allow for the supply of 50 bcm of gas per year from Russia via Mongolia.