Gazprom Starts Designing 2nd Chinese Pipe
Russia's Gazprom has launched feasibility studies to build a second gas pipeline to China capable of pumping up to 50bn m3/yr of gas, its CEO Alexei Miller was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies on May 18.
"The objective is to connect the gas transportation infrastructure in the west and the east of Russia," Miller said.
Russia's 38bn m3/yr Power of Siberia pipeline started flowing gas to China in December. As of May 13 it had shipped 1.36bn m3, according to Chinese data.
While Power of Siberia connects eastern Siberian fields with China directly, Gazprom's new pipeline will run through Mongolia to China, carrying gas from the Yamal Peninsula. Yamal's gas reserve that are now under production flow in other directions.
Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered Gazprom to begin design and survey work on the project, dubbed Power of Siberia 2, in late March.