Turkmenistan maintained its position as the largest supplier of pipeline gas to China in May 2023, according to the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China.
During this period, the total volume transported through the three branches (A, B, C) of the pipeline through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan was 2.7bn cubic metres of gas.
The second most important supplier is Russia, which supplied nearly 2bn cubic metres through the Power of Siberia pipeline in the reporting period.
China also buys liquefied natural gas (LNG): the largest supplier is Australia, which supplied 2.9bn cubic metres. This is followed by Russia, which supplied 1.1bn cubic metres.
Experts say Beijing is keen to insulate itself from the volatile market for LNG transported by tankers.
In this regard, a project to build a fourth branch (D) of the gas pipeline through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is now being discussed. This would increase the annual volume of Turkmen gas supplies to 65bn cubic metres from the current 40bn cubic metres.
Credits: Eziz Boyarov
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