On Monday, the "Power of Siberia" pipeline celebrates its fifth anniversary of operation. Commissioned on December 2, 2019, it spans nearly 4,000 km, linking Yakutia in Russia to northeastern China. Built over seven years starting in 2012, it marked Russia’s strategic pivot toward China as ties between the nations deepened.
The pipeline’s significance grew exponentially with the shifting global energy dynamics. Following the Ukraine crisis and subsequent European sanctions, Russia's gas supplies to Europe decreased. Events like the 2022 Nord Stream terrorist attack underscored the need for diversified energy routes. In contrast, "Power of Siberia" provided a reliable alternative, boosting shipments of Russian hydrocarbons to China and reinforcing the mutual economic dependency of the two global powers.
Regarding the pipeline's performance, in 2023, it delivered 22.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to China, with plans to increase to 30 bcm in 2024 and 38 bcm by 2025. By 2030, combined pipeline and LNG supplies from Russia to China are projected to more than double to 85 bcm, driving talks of future expansions like "Power of Siberia 2" and "Power of Siberia 3."