The first pipeline supplies of Russian gas to China via the eastern route, the Power of Siberia gas trunkline, took place Dec. 2, Gazprom reported (OGJ Online, Oct. 29, 2019).
Gazprom built a section of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline stretching for some 2,200 km from Yakutia to the Chinese border near Blagoveshchensk. Currently, Power of Siberia receives gas from Chayandinskoye field in Yakutia (1.2 trillion cu m of gas reserves). The field’s annual design output is 25 billion cu m of gas. This figure is expected to be reached in 2024.
Also completed are the border-adjacent Atamanskaya compressor station and a cross-border section with a two-string submerged crossing under the Amur River.
Under an agreement between Gazprom and CNPC, gas deliveries will be carried out over the course of 30 years.
In late 2022, Power of Siberia will start to receive gas from Kovyktinskoye field (2.7 trillion cu m of gas reserves) in eastern Russia. The field currently serves as the basis for creating the Irkutsk gas production center, with pre-development operations underway. In the future, an 800-km stretch of Power of Siberia will be constructed between Kovyktinskoye and Chayandinskoye.
The 3,000-km, 55-in. pipeline has capacity of 38 billion cu m/year.
"Today, we are witnessing a historic event for Russia and China. The eastern route – Power of Siberia – is a global, strategically significant and mutually beneficial project. A new scope of energy cooperation between the two countries with a prospect for further development. Clean energy today and tomorrow, for decades to come," said Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee.
