Gazprom’s plans to channel gas to China could soon rival the scale of deliveries it currently ships to Western Europe. This outlook was shared by Gazprom’s chief executive officer, Alexey Miller, during the program “Moscow. Kremlin. Putin” on the Russia-1 television channel. The discussion highlighted the growing role of China as a major destination for Russian gas and the strategic importance of expanding cross-continental energy links.
“In the near term, the volume of pipeline gas we export to China may reach the same order of magnitude as our exports to Western Europe,” Miller stated, underscoring the ambitious trajectory of Russia’s gas supply commitments to the Asia-Pacific region. This signaled a potential shift in the balance of gas flows, with China already emerging as a core partner in Russia’s energy export strategy.
Last year, Russia’s gas shipments to China totaled 15.5 billion cubic meters via the Power of Siberia pipeline, marking a milestone in the evolving energy corridor between the two nations. The ongoing operation of this pipeline has become a cornerstone of Moscow’s plan to diversify supply routes and strengthen economic ties with Beijing, while also supporting China’s growing demand for reliable energy resources.
On September 15, Gazprom initiated the first delivery of self-produced liquefied natural gas by ship to the People’s Republic of China using the Northern Sea Route. Company representatives explained that transporting fuel along this route can considerably cut delivery times to countries around the Asia-Pacific region, potentially accelerating the pace at which gas reaches end users in the APR and reinforcing the strategic value of Arctic sea lanes for energy logistics.
In related developments, Beijing has engaged with Moscow on broader energy cooperation efforts, including joint discussions among relevant states regarding matters of energy security and critical infrastructure. Those dialogues reflect a shared interest in ensuring stable gas supplies, coordinating transmission networks, and addressing potential geopolitical risks that could influence transcontinental gas flows and market stability.