Gazprom CEO says day gas supplies to China will start - Dec 20, 2019 - is "magic" date
VLADIVOSTOK. Feb 19 (Interfax) - Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said there was the "magic of dates" in the announced date for the start of gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia gas pipeline.
The Russian gas giant has "already certainly entered the final stage and already next year, on December 20, we will start supplying gas to China," Miller said, commenting on the course of construction of the pipeline on the Vesti v Subbotu with Sergei Brilev program on TV channel Rossiya 1.
"What an interesting date, December 20," Brilev said. December 20 is when Russian Security Services Agency Workers Day is celebrated.
"Well, that's how everything turned out. That's the magic of dates," Miller said, smiling.
Miller did the interview with Brilev on Friday in Novo-Ogaryovo, right after a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, who congratulated Gazprom on its 25-year anniversary.
"Two thirds of the linear section is built. I stress, supplies will begin right on the set date," Miller said. A day earlier, he said that 1,520 km of the 2,158-km pipeline has been built.
"This is the most dynamic gas market in the world. We don't have any doubts about the profitability of the gas pipeline, absolutely. The price formula that is spelled out in the contract with China allows us to feel absolutely confident at current hydrocarbon prices," Miller said.