London — Gas giant Gazprom plans to start injections of Russian gas into the 38 Bcm/year capacity Power of Siberia pipeline in the third quarter of 2019 ahead of first commercial flows to China at the start of December, the company said late Thursday.
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Register NowFollowing talks with CNPC chairman Wang Yilin in Beijing, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said the preparation of the facilities for Russian gas exports to China via Power of Siberia was going "according to schedule."
The 2,200 km line will initially be filled with gas from the giant Chayandinskoye field before gas from the Kovykta field is added to the supply.
"It is planned to start injecting gas into the pipeline in the third quarter of this year," Gazprom said.
In February, Gazprom brought forward the date for first commerical flows to December 1 -- ahead of previous guidance of December 20.
Gazprom has said it expects to begin gas exports to China at a level of around 5 Bcm/year in the first year of operations through the Power of Siberia.
In the second year of operations -- 2021 -- supplies are expected to ramp up to 10 Bcm before reaching full capacity in 2022-23.
Russia also has plans to send another 30 Bcm/year via a western route to China in the future, with talks having resumed at the highest level after negotiations appeared to have stalled.
It also envisages a third route to pump gas to China from Russia's Far East. "The parties discussed issues related to the planned deliveries of Russian gas to China from the Far East and via the western route," Gazprom said.