Gazprom, China Note Progress in Organization of Russian Gas Exports

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Gazprom head Alexey Miller and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli have discussed issues related to the export of Russian gas to China during a working meeting in Beijing, Gazprom's press service said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The sides discussed issues related to the organization of the export of Russian pipeline gas to China. In particular, they talked about the eastern and western routes. Progress was noted in all areas of cooperation," the statement reads.

Earlier in the day, Miller also held a working meeting with the chairman of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Wang Yilin, the meeting focused on organizational issues related to supplying gas to China via the western route. The sides also discussed prospects for cooperation in the field of underground gas storage in China, power generation and the use of gas as a motor fuel.

In 2014, Gazprom signed a 30-year framework agreement with CNPC for annual deliveries of 38 billion cubic meters of Russian gas through the eastern route pipeline, formally known as the Power of Siberia.

The western route, or the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, was conceived to supply gas to China from Western Siberian fields and has a planned annual capacity of 30 billion cubic meters. In May 2015, Gazprom and CNPC inked an agreement for gas supplies from Russia to China via this route.