FSUOGM: Kazakhstan to transit 35 bcm per year of Russian gas to China

Kazakhstan plans to transit 35bn cubic metres per year of Russian gas to China in the future, putting volumes on a par with Russian deliveries to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline.

“We want to make the most of our transit potential. The road map has been signed. We are talking about 35bn cubic metres of gas [per year], which will be supplied to China,” Kazakhstan’s envoy to Russia, Dauren Abayev, was quoted as saying about the Moscow-based TASS news agency. 

Talks on gas pricing continue, he said.

Russia hopes to significantly expand gas exports to China to offset the loss of most of its market share in Europe. While direct supplies to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline continue to climb, and are due to reach a peak of 38 bcm per year by next year, Moscow has so far been unable to clinch a deal with Beijing on developing the 50 bcm per year Power of Siberia 2 pipeline. 

As such, it is looking to transit gas to China via Central Asia as a shorter-term solution.

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