State Duma ratifies agreement on gas deliveries from Russia to China via Far Eastern route
MOSCOW. May 31 (Interfax) - The State Duma on Wednesday ratified an agreement between the governments of Russia and China on cooperation in supplying natural gas from Russia to China via the Far Eastern route.
The document (N358146-8) was submitted to the parliament by the Russian government in mid-May.
This agreement was signed in Moscow and Beijing on Jan. 31, 2023. It defines the main terms of cooperation on gas supplies from Russia to China via the Far East route, including the cross-border section of the pipeline across the Ussuri River (Wusulijiang) near the cities of Dalnerechensk (Russia) and Hulin (PRC).
The agreement defines the scope of customs concessions, in particular, it contains a provision on application of a simplified procedure of border crossing for personnel, transport and technical means, equipment, as well as construction and consumable materials, components and spare parts necessary for design and survey work, construction and operation of the underwater crossing.
The agreement contains a provision on the need to respect the confidentiality of information during the implementation of the agreement.
The document also defines the procedure for the distribution of ownership of the cross-border section of the gas pipeline, including the section of the underwater crossing. The point of delimitation of the submerged crossing sections will be determined as of the date of completion of construction of the cross-border section of the pipeline and will remain unchanged for the entire term of the agreement, the explanatory materials say.
The implementation of the agreement will be coordinated by the Energy Ministry of Russia and the State Energy Administration of the People's Republic of China. Gazprom is the authorized organization responsible for the implementation of the agreement on the Russian side, while the China National Petroleum Corporation and China National Pipeline Corporation are responsible for the implementation of the agreement on the Chinese side.