Russia's Gazprom intends to unveil to China's CNPC plans for a third gas supply route by next summer in addition to two other pipeline projects already under development.
Russia and China are both looking at intensifying their relationship in gas -- Moscow as it targets new markets because of stagnating demand in its key European market and Beijing as it looks to increase the use of gas in its energy mix to meet its still growing overall demand.
Gazprom and CNPC already have two agreements in place for Russian gas supplies to China with a total of 68 Bcm/year planned to be sent via two different routes -- the so-called Western and Eastern routes.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said Friday a third route -- sending gas via a pipeline it could build through Russian Far Eastern regions via Khabarovsk to Vladivostok -- was still also under consideration.
"By July 2016 Gazprom is to submit to CNPC options for gas deliveries to China from [Russia's] Far East, including on timeframes and volumes," Miller said.
He was speaking following a governmental commission meeting on the Far East development in Vladivostok that took place Friday.
The source of gas for the third option is not clear, though it could be that Gazprom would look to use gas from the Sakhalin 1 project.
On Thursday last week, Russia moved forward with plans to supply gas to China from fields in the east of the country via the Power of Siberia project, with Miller and CNPC chief Wang Yilin signing an agreement on the design and construction of the cross-border section of the pipeline.
The deal will see the Russian and Chinese gas transportation networks connected and includes the terms on the construction of the key underwater section under the Amur river.
In May 2014 Gazprom and CNPC signed a 30-year contract to supply 38 Bcm/year of pipeline gas from Russia to China via that route.
A previous deal is for 30 Bcm/year of supplies from Russia to China via the western route, with studies also ongoing for creating a second line and increasing the total volume of deliveries to 60 Bcm/year.
Miller and Yilin also discussed the prospects of building gas storage facilities in China, Gazprom said.
