Russian gas major, Gazprom, is pushing ahead to build a 50 billion cubic meter gas pipeline to China amid economic sanctions imposed by Western countries, Business Insider reported.

Gas and oil exports made up a major part of Russia’s economy with European countries being major clients. However, in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, European nations have put economic sanctions in place such as removing Russian banks from the international payments system but haven’t halted Russian energy imports yet, Business Insider reported. 

Germany has stalled plans for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that is designed to carry gas into mainland Europe. However, Nord Stream 1 which currently supplies gas to Europe remains functional.

After energy majors such as Shell and BP declared their intentions to divest from Russian energy businesses, Gazprom is looking for avenues to expand its gas supply and as the world’s fastest-growing gas market, China is an attractive destination. It also helps that China has refrained from calling Russia’s recent military actions an invasion. 

In 2014, Gazprom had signed a 30-year deal with China to supply 38 billion cubic meters of gas a year. Supplies as part of this deal began in 2019 when the Power of Siberia pipeline was completed, Bloomberg reported.

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