Altai gas pipeline

The memorandum on deliveries of Russian natural gas to China was signed by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and CNPC CEO Chen Geng during Russian president Vladimir Putin's visit to China in March 2006.

{{cite web

|url=http://gazprom.com/production/projects/pipelines/altai/

|title=Altai Project

|publisher=Gazprom

|access-date=2010-10-09

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003210550/http://www.gazprom.com/production/projects/pipelines/altai/

|archive-date=3 October 2010

|url-status=dead

}}

The project was put on hold in 2009 due to disagreements over natural gas price and competition from other gas sources in the Chinese market.

{{cite news

|url= http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/article.aspx?id=3961

|title= Global Insights: Chinese-Russian Relations the Best Ever?

|author= Richard Weitz

|publisher= World Politics Review

|date=2009-06-23

|access-date=2009-07-15| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090629033507/http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/article.aspx?id=3961| archive-date= 29 June 2009 | url-status= live}}

{{cite news

|url= https://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2008/10/07/afx5522204.html

|title= Russia to delay construction of proposed gas pipeline to China - Xinhua

|author= Kelly Zang

|work= Forbes

|date=2008-10-08

|access-date=2009-07-15}}{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

In 2013, Gazprom and CNPC agreed instead to pursue a route further east, the Power of Siberia gas pipeline.{{cite news | url = http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=404502 | title = Gazprom, CNPC sign memorandum on eastern route pipeline gas supplies to China (Part 2) | date = March 22, 2013 | access-date = 2014-04-10 | publisher = Interfax | archive-date = 2014-04-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124854/http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=404502 | url-status = dead }}{{cite news | url = http://www.rusmininfo.com/news/27-03-2013/gazprom-%E2%80%9Chas-forgot%E2%80%9D-about-%E2%80%9Caltai%E2%80%9D-concentrated-%E2%80%9Cpower-siberia%E2%80%9D-project | title = Gazprom "has forgot" about "Altai", concentrated at the "Power of Siberia" project | date = March 27, 2013 | author = Svetlana Kyrzhaly | access-date = 2014-04-10 | publisher = Oil and Gas, Metals and Mining News }} In 2014, the project was resumed during the APEC summit.{{Cite web |url=http://chinababe.ru/delkit/politics/2014/11/11/apec-results/ |title=Саммит АТЭС в Пекине: первые итоги - ЭКД! |access-date=2014-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129063814/http://chinababe.ru/delkit/politics/2014/11/11/apec-results/ |archive-date=2014-11-29 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web| url=http://interfaxenergy.com/gasdaily/article/14214/altai-pipeline-will-go-direct-from-russia-to-china| title=Altai pipeline will go direct from Russia to China| date=2014-11-18| access-date=2014-12-11| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133328/http://interfaxenergy.com/gasdaily/article/14214/altai-pipeline-will-go-direct-from-russia-to-china| archive-date=2015-04-02| url-status=dead}} In 2015, the project was "postponed for an indefinite period of time".{{Cite web|url=https://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/149528/russianchinese_gas_pipeline_cancellation_offers_lng_opportunities/|title=Russian-Chinese Gas Pipeline Cancellation Offers LNG Opportunities|website=www.rigzone.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}

Gazprom and the Mongolian Government discussed details of a feasibility study for the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project in October 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazprom.com/press/news/2021/october/article540773/|title=Gazprom and Mongolian Government discuss progress of feasibility study for Soyuz Vostok gas pipeline project|website=www.gazprom.com|language=en|access-date=2021-10-23}} In 2022, Mongolia’s Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai announced that the feasibility study had been completed, and that the construction of the pipeline would commence in 2024, and would connect the Siberian gas fields to China via Mongolia.{{Cite web |last=Pao |first=Jeff |date=2022-07-20 |title=Power of Siberia 2 to divert Europe-bound gas to China |url=https://asiatimes.com/2022/07/power-of-siberia-2-to-divert-europe-bound-gas-to-china/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Asia Times |language=en-US}}

On August 19, 2024, the South China Morning Post reported that Mongolia has not included the pipeline in its action programme through 2028. {{Cite news |date=2024-08-19 |title=Future murky for Russia-China pipeline as Mongolia omits project from long-term plan | url=https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3275022/future-murky-russia-china-pipeline-mongolia-omits-project-long-term-plan |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en-US}}

The {{convert|2800|km|mi|adj=mid|-2}} pipeline would start from the Purpeyskaya compressor station of the existing Urengoy–Surgut–Chelyabinsk pipeline. It would carry natural gas from the Nadym and Urengoy fields in Western Siberia. The total length of the Russian section would be {{convert|2666|km|mi}}, including {{convert|205|km|mi}} in Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region, {{convert|325|km|mi}} in Khanty–Mansi autonomous region, {{convert|879|km|mi}} in Tomsk Oblast, {{convert|244|km|mi}} in Novosibirsk Oblast, {{convert|422|km|mi}} in Altai Krai, and {{convert|591|km|mi}} in the Altai Republic. The terminal point in the Russian territory is the Kanas mountain pass. A large part of the pipeline will be built within the technical corridor of existing pipelines, such as the Urengoy—Surgut—Chelyabinsk, Northern Tyumen–Surgut—Omsk, Nizhnevartovsk gas refinery – Parabel, Parabel—Kuzbass, Novosibirsk—Kuzbass, Novosibirsk—Barnaul, and Barnaul—Biysk pipelines. In China, the pipeline would be terminated in the Xinjiang region, where it will be linked to the West–East Gas Pipeline.

{{cite news

|url= http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/JF11Ag01.html

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081007200701/http://atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/JF11Ag01.html

|url-status= unfit

|archive-date= 2008-10-07

|title= China stumbles in forging Russia gas deals

|publisher= Asia Times

|author = John Helmer

|date=2008-11-11

|access-date=2009-07-15}}

Alternatively, an eastern route through Mongolia is being studied.{{cite web |last1=Meliksetian |first1=Vanand |title=The Superpower Energy Project To Watch In 2020 |url=https://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/The-Superpower-Energy-Project-To-Watch-In-2020.html |website=OilPrice.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405000315/https://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/The-Superpower-Energy-Project-To-Watch-In-2020.html |archive-date=5 April 2020 |language=en |date=15 January 2020 |url-status=live}} The trans-Mongolian gas pipeline proposal could generate $1 billion in transit fees per year for Mongolia.{{Cite web |last=Adiya |first=Amar |date=2021-07-28 |title=Mongolia forced to choose sides as 'friends' fight |url=https://www.mongoliaweekly.org/post/mongolia-forced-to-choose-sides-as-friends-fight |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Mongolia Weekly |language=en}}

The diameter of the pipeline would be {{convert|1420|mm|in}}.{{cite news

|title = Алтайская карта "Газпрома"

|trans-title = Altai map of "Gazprom"

|url = http://www.oilcapital.ru/analytics/2007/01/171221_103884.shtml

|publisher = Нефть и Капитал

|date = 2007-01-17

|access-date = 2008-12-21

|language = Russian

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070214093650/http://www.oilcapital.ru/analytics/2007/01/171221_103884.shtml

|archive-date = 2007-02-14

|url-status = dead

}} The designed capacity of the pipeline would be 30 billion cubic meters (bcm) natural gas annually and the total costs of the whole project is expected to be up to US$14 billion. The pipeline was originally expected to become operational in 2011.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.kommersant.com/p705319/r_500/Natural_Gas_in_Exchange_for_Time/

| title= Natural Gas in Exchange for Time

| publisher= Kommersant

| date= 2006-09-16

| access-date= 2008-12-21

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930165307/http://www.kommersant.com/p705319/r_500/Natural_Gas_in_Exchange_for_Time/

| archive-date= 2007-09-30

| url-status= dead

}}

The pipeline will be built and operated by TomskTransGaz, the subsidiary of Gazprom.

The pipeline project has been criticized by environmental organizations because it was planned to run across the Ukok Plateau, which is the natural habitat of the snow leopard and other endangered species.

Additionally, Altai leaders feared that construction of the pipeline and accompanying technical highway will pave the way for a Chinese expansion into Altai.

The pipeline route impacts burial sites and shrines in the region.

{{cite AV media

| url=http://standingonsacredground.org/film-series/pilgrims-and-tourists

| title=Pilgrims and Tourists

| access-date=2015-05-15

| date=2014

| publisher=Earth Island Institute

| transcript=2014 film follows two traditional healers describing cultural impacts of disturbing burial sites.

}}

A price precedent for the Power of Siberia 2 has already been established by the Power of Siberia which is lower than the prices of Central Asian countries and China is the monopsonist buyer.[https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2023/04/what-russias-first-gas-pipeline-to-china-reveals-about-a-planned-second-one?lang=en What Russia’s First Gas Pipeline to China Reveals About a Planned Second One]

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Portal|Energy|Russia|Engineering|Transport|Economy}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150423192016/http://www.gazprom.com/about/production/projects/pipelines/altai/ Altai Project (Gazprom website)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110720125410/http://ice.tsu.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=26&Itemid=95 А.Н. Рудой. "Обратная сторона Луны?"]

{{Pipeline Systems of Russia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Altai Gas Pipeline}}

Category:Natural gas pipelines in Russia

Category:Natural gas pipelines in China

Category:Proposed pipelines in Asia

Category:Gazprom pipelines

Category:China–Russia relations