SPECULUM VERUM
Siberian Force gas pipeline 2, under discussion for several years between Moscow and Beijing, will “replace” Nord Stream 2, which was to connect Russia to Europe but whose commissioning has been abandoned since the conflict in Ukraine, Russian Energy Minister said on Thursday, Alexander Novak. Asked in an interview with the Rossiya-1 television channel about a replacement in the Russian energy strategy of the European Nord Stream 2 by the Asian Force of Siberia 2, M. Novak replied : «Oui».
Earlier in the day, The Minister, on the sidelines of a trip to Uzbekistan, claimed that Russia and China would soon sign agreements for the delivery of "50 billion cubic meters of gas" per year via the future Siberian Force gas pipeline 2. This volume will represent almost the maximum capacity of Nord Stream 1 – 55 billion m³ in total -, stopped since 2 september. It is through this strategic gas pipeline, that connects Russia to Germany, through which a third of Russian gas deliveries to the European Union had previously transited.
Siberian Force 2 will feed, his, the energy-intensive Chinese economy partly via Mongolia. The construction start date is set for 2024. In Russia's energy strategy, it will therefore replace the Nord Stream project 2, long supported by Germany but which the United States looked on with a very bad eye and which the West has buried since the Russian offensive in Ukraine at the end of February.
And Europe, Russian gas exports to the EU “will fall by around 50 billion m³” in 2022, added Thursday M. Novak. At the same time, the Russian minister indicated that Gazprom, the operator of the Siberian Force gas pipeline 1 which connects since the end 2019 Chaiandina's field (Yakoutie) northeast of china, was going to “increase its deliveries” to reach “20 billion m³ of gas” each year.
The start connection 2023 from the Kovytka field, close to Lake Baikal, to the gas pipeline will contribute in particular to facilitating this significant increase. In 2025, when it has reached its maximum capacity, this major gas pipeline will produce 61 billion cubic meters per year, more than Nord Stream 1, dont 38 billion m³ will be destined for China under a major contract signed in 2014 between Gazprom and its Chinese counterpart CNPC. Agreements have also been signed with Beijing for the construction of a new transit road from Vladivostok (Russian Far East) to the north of China, i.e. "10 billion m³ of additional gas", announced Thursday the Minister of Energy.
Too many flows from Russia and very little into it. I think, it's a hasty decision. This is an expensive project., will be paid by China on 80%, and therefore will be controlled by him. From us, just have time to supply gas.