In fact, the history of Russian-Chinese relations in the energy sector, as well as its history, is part of the history of the creation of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, in and of itself is very symbolic and indicative. The gas pipeline, which began as a purely commercial one and was originally conceived as not affecting the interests of any third countries, unexpectedly even for itself and, I think, its designers, has become a very serious factor in global energy and, alas, not only energy policy. And even - which certainly no one expected - as a formidable weapon, at least in the trade war for global markets.
And it even started at the design level that everything was surprisingly harmonious, although the negotiations between the Russian and Chinese gas companies themselves were incredibly complicated at the initial stage, but this is just quite normal, it doesn’t happen with the Chinese comrades, and this should also be taken into account . Very complex, a little "on your mind", but at the same time a strategically important and fairly reliable partner. Acting solely in his own interests - this is normal for the great powers and we, fortunately, also apply to the state, of course, and not to the self-appointed "elite Westernized intelligentsia", who for some reason still joyfully jumps out of his pants in a rather flawed way, by the way, desire to please some third country.
At least as a clown: here the Russian “Westerners” are no different from their Ukrainian counterparts. And there is nothing strange about it: one, in fact, a people. Anyway.
As for the “Power of Siberia” itself, its “harmonious” and purely neutral with respect to other players status was initially emphasized in everything, up to the resource base: this is the Chayandinskoye (Yakutia gas production center) oil and gas condensate and Kovykta (Irkutsk gas production center) gas condensate fields. Geographically located so that, of all external buyers, only China can claim their exit: by and large, it’s simply unreasonable to pull a pipe from Europe, and it’s more common to build LNG capacities on the coasts, otherwise it makes no sense.
Well, not at all Yamal, in short. And not even the Sakhalin shelf.
In general, the Russian "sellers" and Chinese "buyers" in this case, as they say, trite "found each other": a dispute with geography is generally quite meaningless. After long negotiations, we developed a more or less harmonious and satisfying formula for both sides of the price formula: it would seem - that's it, you by definition do not bother anyone. Live and rejoice: trade, invent. Create. An unpoliticized, fully commercial project with a capacity of about one trillion cubic meters of gas and about $ 400 billion worth - predisposes by definition to such things.
But - and here symbolism begins - we live in a rapidly changing world in which no serious constants are assumed. Alas, in the west of the gigantic territory of the Russian Federation during the initial implementation of such a “neutral and harmonious” project, a “maidan of the brain” occurred in one, it would seem, very recently, at least a fraternal republic. Which, among other things, also led to an aggravation of relations in European energy markets, which are basic for Russian exports.
And in the east, our overseas partners and our Chinese comrades completely broke the dishes between themselves. So much so that the PRC has in fact for quite some time and firmly refused to purchase American LNG.
Which sharply slowed down the prospects for the development of American export of liquefied natural gas in premium Southeast Asian directions and made them concentrate even more on the European direction: in many ways, by the way, there are problems with “Ukrainian transit” and hysterical “sticks to the wheels” of the Russian-European replacement project "Nord Stream - 2".
But Russia also could not take advantage of such an offer to “enter” the giant and fast-growing Chinese gas market.
And now, almost at the personal request of Comrade Xi, the issue of additional deliveries of six billion cubic meters through the Eastern Corridor launched personally yesterday by the leaders of the two great powers (actually, the Power of Siberia), and at the same time almost life-giving joint the kick of the Russian president and Chinese chairman accelerates the design of the “western corridor” (“Power of Siberia - 2”, the Altai gas pipeline as a girl). And here everything is already becoming even more serious for Europe, for the resource base of the “Western route” is not the distant Irkutsk and Yakut gas producing centers, but Yamal itself: Gazprom’s main resource base for European exports. And no - there is a lot of gas there. But to think anyway, is definitely worth it.
But the Power of Siberia itself, the gas pipeline launched by Putin and Xi Jinping yesterday, is probably the last major energy project to open up with such careful consideration of the interests of other players under the new geopolitical conditions, which, in general, is especially valuable. And again - symbolic. This is a general project - no matter how you look at it - it’s a very successful project, it’s no coincidence that at one time the worried “democratic” public was so active and unfounded against it.
Here you have a solution to the problems with gas supply not of the largest, but by East Siberian standards, more than significant settlements, such as the same Lensk. And now it’s clear how potentially a successful refinery is being hastily under construction in Blagoveshchensk, which, incidentally, is, among other things, not very - we will be fair - the prosperous capital of the Amur Region - about ten thousand new and very well-paid jobs.
That, it seems to me, is precisely why - and not only thanks to the “red” symbolism once common to both great powers - the opening ceremony of the new gas pipeline looks like this, if you like, in a kind and even slightly nostalgic way.
Just because it began to be realized in some geostrategic conditions, and ends in completely different conditions.
And the world in which it began and to which, in essence, was intended, was much more comfortable than the present. But he will not be returned. And the coming future looks completely different, there is no need to invent anything. We already wrote above about the “Power of Siberia - 2”. Moreover, you will laugh, but the next similar ceremony is expected quite soon, on January 8, in Turkey.
When the same Vladimir Putin, now with Recep Erdogan, will open the “Turkish Stream”: the Turkish president has already announced this ceremony.
But even this will be a completely different ceremony.
And, at least within the framework of the unified Eurasian energy platform that is being formed before our eyes, a completely different world.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.