OREANDA-NEWS The Reuters news agency, citing informed sources in the Oil ministry of the People's Republic of China, reports that China may accelerate the construction of a Central Asian pipeline for gas supplies from Turkmenistan, delaying the implementation of the Russian Power of Siberia-2 project.

According to the newspaper, as part of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, Beijing is seeking to strengthen ties with Central Asia, preferring to give priority to the new gas pipeline "Line D", although at the moment China pays 30% more for gas from Turkmenistan than for gas from Russia. During his speech at the summit of Central Asian leaders last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the parties to accelerate the laying of this gas pipeline, which will be the fourth branch going from Turkmenistan to China.

An official familiar with the global strategy of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) told the agency that the Central Asian pipelines represent a key investment in China's energy and geopolitical space. According to him, this supply channel has a strategic value that exceeds commercial interests. The official pointed out that the construction of pipelines is an important goal of Beijing to protect China from the unstable market of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is transported by tankers.

At the same time, industry representatives do not rule out that China may eventually conclude both deals in order to meet long-term gas needs, giving priority to Turkmenistan instead of Russia at this stage. It is clarified that in total, multi-year contracts for the supply of gas through both pipelines can provide about 20% of China's current demand.