"As of today, 1,150 kilometers (over 710 miles) have been welded, that is 53 percent from the whole length. The welding works are being carried out with the use of modern automatic welding complexes and meet environmental standards," Titov said during a televised session.
A total of 1,640 kilometers of pipes were delivered, which is equal to 80 percent of the pipeline's length, Titov noted.
"All the pipes were produced in Russia," Titov said, adding that over 8,500 people are taking part in the pipeline's construction.
Titov also reaffirmed the company's readiness to complete the construction so that the first gas deliveries to China can be carried out in December 2019.
In 2014, Gazprom signed a 30-year framework agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) for annual deliveries of 38 billion cubic meters (1,341 cubic feet) of Russian gas through the eastern route pipeline, formally known as the Power of Siberia. In 2015, the accord was supplemented by a deal on the construction of the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, which will have a capacity of 30 billion cubic meters.
