Russia, China Monitoring Progress of Gas Pipeline Projects

Russia and China are holding talks exclusively regarding price of gas that would be transported via Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, Russian Sergei Ivanov, the chief of staff of the Russian presidential administration, said Friday.

The Power of Siberia-2 or western route envisages gas supply to China from Western Siberia’s fields to the tune of 30 billion cubic meters a year. On May 8, 2015 Gazprom and CNPC inked the heads of agreement for pipeline gas supply from Russia to China via the western route.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinpin, are closely monitoring the implementation of projects on supplying Russian gas to China along the western and eastern routes from Siberia, Sputnik quoted Ivanov as saying.

"This [completion] is for certain. And these issues, energy issues included, were discussed, I can confirm this. They were discussed in some detail at the recently concluded discussions with Chairman Xi Jinping. Both our leaders are monitoring these projects closely," Ivanov said, Sputnik reported.

On September 3, 2015 the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding on natural gas supplies from Russia to China through the pipeline from the Far East. On May 21, 2014 Gazprom and CNPC signed the purchase and sale agreement for gas supply via the eastern route. The 30-year contract provides for Russian gas supplies to China in the amount of 38 billion cubic meters per year.