A new pipeline transporting Russian natural gas from Eastern Siberia to China's populous north and east has begun operations, Chinese media reported on Monday.
Gas is now being pumped through the pipeline, which stretches from the northeastern city of Heihe in Heilongjiang province to Shanghai, the country's largest city on the eastern coast, reported the state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).
The pipeline stretching over 5,111 kilometers (3,175-mile), titled the East Route, will supply up to 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to approximately 450 million people across nine provincial regions.
In 2023, a 30-year gas supply deal was signed to build a new pipeline, in addition to Russia's existing Power of Siberia pipeline.
Amidst US and European sanctions following the Russia-Ukraine War, Russia has shifted its focus to China for energy exports.
As European gas supplies from Russia dwindled due to the war, China emerged as a key alternative market for Russian natural gas, driven by its large population and industrial needs.
(Anadolu Agency, December 3, 2024)
