Russia increases pipeline gas supplies to China by 1.5 times in 2023

By Rhod Mackenzie

By the end of 2023, Gazprom will have increased gas supplies to China by 1.5 times compared to last year. The head of the company, Alexei Miller, announced this on 27th December during a working meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"This year, gas supplies to China will be 1.5 times higher than in 2022, and in 2025 we will meet our contractual obligations, when gas supplies to China will amount to 38 billion cubic metres of gas," he reported.

Miller recalled that on 23 December Gazprom set a historic record for daily gas deliveries to China. According to him, now the largest volumes are being sent there, and they are higher than the contractual obligations.

In addition, the head of the company noted, Uzbek partners have also asked for an increase in gas supplies. At present, twice as much gas is sent to Uzbekistan as is required by the contract.

"In December, we will present to Uzbekistan the maximum technically possible volume of gas that can be supplied via the Central Asia-Centre gas pipeline," Miller said.

Earlier, on 17 December, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that in the 10 months of this year, the holding had delivered about 19 billion cubic metres of gas to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline, which was more than planned. He also expressed hope that Gazprom and CNPC would soon be able to agree on a contract for gas supplies through the planned Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline.

Earlier, in October, the head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, reported that supplies to China through the Power of Siberia gas pipeline had increased by 46%. He emphasised Gazprom's intention to further increase supplies in order to provide Chinese partners with a reliable supply of natural gas.

In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at the EEF-2023 plenary session, also announced plans to connect the Power of Siberia and Sakhalin-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok gas pipelines. The President explained that this, together with the construction of the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, will allow flexible work on the global energy markets.
In addition, Miller said on 9 November that Gazprom plans to develop the Central Asia - Central gas pipeline system and to gasify remote areas of Kazakhstan. He also noted that memorandums on the development of this system had been signed with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. According to him, the implementation of the project will increase the supply of Russian gas to these countries and also ensure transit to other countries in the region.

On 7 October, a solemn ceremony was held to inaugurate Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan. This is the first time in history that gas has been supplied to Central Asia. From the Russian Federation, gas will transit through Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, and part of the fuel will be delivered to the Republic of Kazakhstan itself.