Moscow’s Energy Minister, Alexander Novak, stated on Thursday that the Nord Stream 2 gas link to Europe has been scrapped due to the turmoil in Ukraine and that it will be replaced by a Russian pipeline to China.
In an interview with Russian TV station Rossiya-1, Novak was asked if Russia would replace the European Nord Stream 2 with the Asian Force Siberia 2. He responded, “Yes.”
Earlier in the day, the minister, while in Uzbekistan, announced that Russia and China would soon sign agreements for the transfer of “50 billion cubic meters of gas” annually via the upcoming Force 2 pipeline in Siberia.
Almost exactly 55 billion cubic metres, the full capacity of the now-shut down Nord Stream 1 pipeline, will be met.
The key pipeline connecting Russia and Germany has carried a third of all Russian gas sent to the European Union.
Mongolia will play a role in the delivery of electricity to China’s energy-hungry economy thanks to Force Siberia 2.
Since the West has abandoned the Nord Stream 2 project since the Russian offensive in Ukraine began in late February—a project long supported by Germany but seen suspiciously by Washington—this will be its replacement.
Novak predicts a decline of “approximately 50 billion cubic meters” in 2022 in Russian gas deliveries to the EU.
And Gazprom, which operates the Force of Siberia 1 gas pipeline that has connected the Chaiandina field to northeastern China since the end of 2019, would “raise its supply” to reach “20 billion cubic meters of gas” annually, according to the Russian minister.
This increase will be possible because of the early 2023 connection of the Kovytka field, located near Lake Baikal, to the pipeline.
The pipeline is expected to reach full capacity in 2025, producing 61 billion cubic meters of gas a year, which is greater than Nord Stream 1. Of this total, 38 billion cubic meters will be sent to China per a contract made in 2014 between Gazprom and its Chinese counterpart CNPC.
The energy ministry announced Thursday that the two countries had inked agreements to construct a new transit route from Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East to northern China to import an additional 10 billion cubic meters of gas.
Mahnur is MS(development Studies)Student at NUST University, completed BS Hons in Eng Literature. Content Writer, Policy analyst, Climate Change specialist, Teacher, HR Recruiter.
