Source link : https://london-news.net/china-rejects-russias-kazakhstan-gas-pipeline-plan-as-unviable/
Moscow’s initiative to route Russian gas through Kazakhstan as an alternative to the halted Power of Siberia 2 pipeline has not gained support in Beijing.
This proposal, revealed by Moscow in the autumn of 2024, aimed to transport up to 45 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Russian natural gas to China annually via Kazakhstan. However, Zhang Hanhui, the Chinese Ambassador to Russia, stated that the project would not proceed due to prohibitive costs.
“Transporting gas from Russia through Kazakhstan is not practical,” Zhang told reporters on Tuesday, as quoted by Interfax. “There is only one pipeline currently in use at full capacity. To enable gas transport through this route, a new pipeline would need to be constructed, which is too costly. The Russian side is considering this option, but it is not feasible. In reality, it can’t be done.”
The concept was initially proposed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in November 2024, shortly after discussions about the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline collapsed.
President Vladimir Putin had previously introduced the idea of Power of Siberia 2 to Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2022. This project aimed to boost China’s annual purchases of Russian gas to 100 bcm to compensate for losses in the European market resulting from the Ukraine invasion.
Despite warm rhetoric about a “no-limits” strategic alliance and Putin’s frequent visits to Beijing, Xi has yet to approve the project.
As reported by the Financial…
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Publish date : 2025-04-20 14:37:00
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