Gazprom released a telegraph channel note announcing the annual maintenance window for the Power of Siberia pipeline. From March 28 to April 4, routine work will be conducted, and gas movement along the line to Chinese consumers will pause during that stretch. The company emphasized that this downtime is part of a long-standing spring-season procedure, a period when safety checks, system calibrations, and component replacements are routinely performed to ensure reliability over the year.
During the maintenance interval, the flow of natural gas will be temporarily halted to China through the pipeline network. Industry observers note that the Power of Siberia, which links Siberian gas fields with northeastern China, operates under a carefully scheduled timetable that is repeated annually to maintain high operational standards and to minimize risk to supply continuity over time. In recent years, these pauses have been coordinated with downstream partners to align with broader energy system planning and demand forecasts. The practice also reflects the cooperative framework that governs the project and its long-term operation as a joint venture between Russian and Chinese interests.
Officials have reiterated that spring and autumn downtimes are a standard feature of the pipeline’s maintenance cycle. The aim is to prevent unexpected outages and to verify the integrity of seals, compressors, and control systems across key transmission points. Such preventive measures help safeguard the reliability of gas deliveries during peak seasonal demand periods and contribute to steady energy availability for consumers and industries that rely on this cross-border corridor.
In parallel developments, state representatives and executive leaders have discussed the evolving scope of energy collaboration between Russia and China. During recent talks, President Vladimir Putin highlighted the expanding energy partnership and noted the potential for growing trade volumes as Chinese demand for energy sources continues to rise. The dialogue underscored a shared interest in strengthening energy security and ensuring stable supplies that support economic growth on both sides of the border, particularly as markets adapt to shifting global energy dynamics. (citation: Kremlin press briefing)
One of the notable topics was the progress toward a broader bilateral energy strategy, including the near-finalization of terms for the Power of Siberia-2 project. Russian officials indicated that most parameters of the agreement to extend gas supplies from Russia to China via a route crossing Mongolia have been settled. This proposed pipeline is pitched as a major upgrade to the existing corridor, with aims to diversify transit routes and reinforce the energy infrastructure that underpins Russia’s export capacity to Asia. As negotiations continue, stakeholders emphasize the potential for enhanced supply guarantees and more predictable pricing mechanisms to satisfy China’s growing energy needs while supporting Russia’s export dynamic. (citation: Intergovernmental energy council)