Radio Free Asia: CNPC faces pain on Russia gas deal

China's massive natural gas deal with Russia could drive the government to speed pricing reforms, spurring a significant rise in household rates.

Nearly three weeks after the two sides signed the US$400-billion (2.5-trillion yuan) export deal in Shanghai, the terms remain a commercial secret, but most analysts have cited a starting price of US$350 (2,186 yuan) per thousand cubic meters.

The Russian export price, which is subject to periodic increases under a formula tied to oil and oil products, would be higher than the cost of gas from Central Asia but lower than Russia's prices for Europe or China's imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

First supplies from Russia's state-owned Gazprom under the 30-year contract are not expected before 2019, but the starting price suggests that rate increases will be needed to avoid losses for China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC).
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