KALININGRAD, October 4 (RIA Novosti) – The agreement on the supply of Russian gas to China via the western route may be achieved before the end of the year under favorable circumstances, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.
"We do not have hard deadlines, the talks between Gazprom and CNPC are underway, and as soon as the agreement is reached regarding the price, the terms of the construction of the gas pipeline, and the gas supply, we will be able to say something more specific. Under favorable circumstances, we expect that this could be done until the end of the year, if the companies reach an agreement," Novak said.
Earlier, the Russian Energy Ministry expressed the hope that the contract for the supply of gas to China will be signed within the framework of the APEC summit, which will be held in Beijing in November.
The discussion of the Russian gas supplies to China via the western route has intensified after Gazprom and CNPC signed a $400 billion contract to supply China with 38 billion cubic meters of gas annually for 30 years via the eastern route through the branches of the Strength of Siberia gas pipeline.
