Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline Discussions Amid Energy Supply Disruptions

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed the stalled Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline during a meeting in Beijing. The pipeline aims to transport 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually from Russia to China via Mongolia. Pricing and financing details remain unresolved, with China seeking rates of $120-130 per 1,000 cubic meters, while Moscow aims for prices similar to the existing Power of Siberia 1. In the first quarter, China's imports of Russian oil surged by 35% year over year, highlighting the growing energy relationship despite geopolitical tensions. Both nations agreed to expand the capacity of the existing Power of Siberia system, which currently delivers about 38 billion cubic meters of gas to China.