Russia and China have once again failed to agree on a launch date for the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline
During the latest round of talks in Beijing, the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China once again failed to agree on a specific launch date for the “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline.
Despite lengthy consultations between government delegations, key parameters of the final contract remain unresolved.
The project, which the Kremlin considers critical for reorienting its energy flows, is still in the stage of discussing the details.
However, behind the scenes of these diplomatic statements lies an obvious lack of real progress. Peskov officially acknowledged that there are currently no clear deadlines for the implementation of this large-scale project.
At the same time, the Kremlin spokesperson attempted to downplay the setback, calling the current state of the negotiation process “a significant achievement.”
The “Power of Siberia-2” pipeline is described as a gas pipeline from Russia to China that is to pass through Mongolian territory.
The project’s capacity is up to 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. The parties began actively discussing this concept back in 2014, immediately after the launch of the first branch of the “Power of Siberia” gas pipeline.
However, full-scale negotiations have been stalled for years due to fierce disputes over the final price of the raw material, the optimal route, and the detailed terms of supply.
The Chinese side is taking a wait-and-see approach and seeking maximum discounts, which is why Beijing has postponed signing the strategic contract several times in a row.
The document could not be finalized even during the official reciprocal visits of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in 2024 and 2025.
Currently, China is in no hurry to make long-term commitments, which jeopardizes Moscow’s energy plans.
China has extended the visa-free regime for Russian citizens until the end of 2027
China has committed to purchasing over $17 billion worth of U.S. goods
