Russia's energy behemoth Gazprom announced with great fanfare in early 2024 that it had overtaken Turkmenistan as China's largest supplier of natural gas in terms of volume. But when it comes to export earnings, Ashgabat still tops Moscow.
The Turkmen portal, Oil & Gas, reports that during the first quarter of this year, Ashgabat generated $2.4 billion in income from gas exports to China. That figure was confirmed by Daryo, Uzbekistan's most popular news website. The Daryo report noted that Russia earned $2 billion from its gas sales to Beijing during the same period.
The reason for the volume-earnings differential is that China is hoovering up Russian gas at bargain basement prices. The Kremlin's need for cash to keep the country afloat while maintaining its war effort in Ukraine has deprived Russia of most of its negotiating leverage in its dealings with Beijing.
Russia's edge in export volume may last only as long as the steep pricing discounts continue. An independent outlet, The Chronicle of Turkmenistan, reported that the capacity of Russia's Power of Siberia gas pipeline to China is projected to be 38 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2025. Meanwhile, the collective capacity of three pipelines connecting Turkmenistan and China totals 55 bcm.
Turkmen state-affiliated media outlets have cast some shade on the Kremlin's exports: in reports about Ashgabat's gas earnings from China they have omitted mention of Russia. For example, in addition to Turkmenistan, a report published by Turkmenportal names only Australia ($3.6 billion), Qatar ($3.1 billion) and Malaysia ($1.15 billion) as key suppliers, mainly with liquefied natural gas.
Meanwhile, the head of Turkmengaz, Maksat Babayev, has announced plans to develop what he described as the "world's largest gas field" at Galkynysh. The first stage of development already "stably ensures the export of 30 bcm of gas per year to China," the second stage will bring another 25 bcm of gas per year online. A third phase of development can supply the long-planned Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project with a projected capacity of capacity of 33 bcm, according to Turkmenportal.
Eurasianet is an independent news organization that covers news from and about the South Caucasus and Central Asia, providing on-the-ground reporting and critical perspectives on… More
Russia Discovers Massive Oil and Gas Reserves in British Antarctic Territory
Five Countries With the Cleanest Energy Grid Globally
Aramco’s Q1 2024 Results: Saudi Arabia is at a Dangerous Tipping Point
U.S. Leverages Saudi-Israeli Relations to Isolate Iran
Russia Targets Kharkiv in Major Offensive After Kyiv Attacks Refineries