Gazprom discloses surging gas exports to China, but volumes still fall far short of lost EU market
Natural gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline have surged by 1.5 times since the beginning of 2024, Russian media agency Interfax reported on Jan. 4.
Russian gas monopolist Gazprom supplied 22.7 billion cubic meters of gas to China in 2023, exceeding Gazprom’s contractual obligations by 700 million cubic meters and marking a 1.5-fold increase from 2022’s 15.4 billion cubic meters.
Gazprom said that in early January 2024, the company brought daily gas supplies to China “to a fundamentally new level,” and on Jan. 2, this new level was surpassed, setting a historic record for daily pipeline gas exports to Chinese consumers.
Read also: Kyiv to cut off Russian gas transit to Europe at end of 2024
For 2024, there exists a contractual commitment for Russia to supply 30 billion cubic meters to China, following the 22 billion cubic meters in 2023. By 2025, the Power of Siberia pipeline aims to achieve full export capacity, reaching 38 billion cubic meters annually.
At the end of December 2023, Gazprom inaugurated new extraction capacities crucial for the planned increase in exports to China. These capacities are situated in the Kovykta field in Irkutsk Oblast and the Chayanda field in Yakutia.
Read also: China exacts even larger discount on Russian gas as primary importer of sanctioned resource
Previously reported projections indicate that Russian pipeline gas deliveries to EU countries for 2023 will decrease by 65%, totaling approximately 20-25 billion cubic meters. This represents a sevenfold reduction compared to the pre-war 2021, when the company supplied 140 billion cubic meters.
We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
