Russian gas supplies to China increased like a storm

Russia’s gas supply to China has increased by nearly 60% in the first four months of 2022 compared with the same period last year – RT quoted the announcement of the Russian energy corporation Gazprom May 1st.

Gazprom said that deliveries were made through the Power of Siberia pipeline as part of the contract between Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

Since Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow or participate in sanctions against Russia, despite pressure from the West.

Sanctions have reduced Russian gas supplies to countries outside the former Soviet Union by 26.9% since the beginning of the year. A total of 50.1 billion cubic meters have been delivered in the past 4 months.

Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that “unfriendly countries” (those that sanction Russia) pay for their gas purchases in cash. ruble from April 1st. The measure was adopted after harsh sanctions were imposed on Moscow amid the conflict in Ukraine.

Initially, the EU rejected the new Russian regulations, calling it “extortion”, but the European Commission recently said there may be a way to pay for Russian gas in rubles without violating the rules. sanctions.

However, some countries still refused to switch to the ruble, prompting Gazprom to cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria by the end of April. Russia also has plans to gas cut for Finland at the end of May if the country does not accept payments in rubles.

Since Russia cut gas to Poland and Bulgaria on April 27, the demand for gas transportation from Russia to Europe through Ukraine has increased by 76%. Europe increases purchases of Russian gas through countries paying in rubles and redistributing part of it. Along the Uzhgorod corridor, shipments gradually increase to Slovakia, in the reverse direction increase from Germany to Poland via the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline. So, in effect, Poland is still buying gas from Russia, but from German suppliers.

The supply of gas by Russia through the Sudzha and Sokhanovka stations in Ukraine is formed on the basis of European demand. As of May 1, the volume of gas transported through these stations has reached 98.89 million cubic meters. This is 1.8 times (76%) more than on April 26 – before Gazprom stopped supplying Poland and Bulgaria.

It is worth noting that on April 30, European consumers increased their demand for Russian gas supplies through Ukrainedespite the fact that at the end of the week, gas demand usually falls.