In 2023, Russia plans to elevate gas deliveries to China through the Power of Siberia pipeline by roughly half, reaching about 22 billion cubic meters. This projection was shared by Alexander Novak, the deputy prime minister of the Russian Federation, in a televised interview on Russia-1 and echoed by a post on a Telegram channel that carried the remarks from journalist Pavel Zarubin. The message reflects a broader trend in regional energy trade and signals the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to expand gas exports to Asia.
Drawing on the 2022 results, Novak noted that Russia has been boosting its sales across oil, gas, and coal. Specifically for gas, last year saw deliveries of 15 billion cubic meters, with 2023 expected to show a near 50 percent increase to 22 billion cubic meters. The forecast underscores the importance of the Power of Siberia project as a strategic conduit for diversifying Russia’s export markets and strengthening energy ties with Asia. Novak also stated that the Power of Siberia pipeline is on track to operate at its full designed capacity within the next two years, a milestone that would solidify Russia’s role as a stable supplier to one of the world’s largest energy markets.
On April 21, the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China published data indicating a significant rise in the cost of pipeline gas supplies from Russia to China during January through March. The agency reported that the value of these shipments surged by about 2.2 times, totaling roughly 1.76 billion dollars. Within the same period, Turkmenistan emerged as the leading supplier of gas to China, with deliveries from that nation increasing by 14 percent to an estimated 2.42 billion dollars. These figures highlight the dynamic shifts in cross-border energy flows and the competitive landscape among gas suppliers to China.
Analysts have provided context for this growing demand. Maria Belova, the research director at Vygon Consulting, argued that China’s robust appetite for Russian gas can be understood through geopolitical and economic calculations. By framing its international relationships along a spectrum of friendly and hostile alignments, Beijing makes strategic choices about where to source energy. In this view, China preserves extensive access to gas while balancing potential constraints from other suppliers. The interpretation points to a broader pattern in which China seeks reliable, diversified sources to safeguard its energy security while navigating regional and global political considerations.