Moscow and Beijing are exploring the possibility of joint development of coal deposits in Russia, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said at a meeting of the Russian-Chinese intergovernmental commission on energy cooperation.
In particular, we are talking about the development of the Zashulan coal deposit in the Trans-Baikal Territory. Back in 2014, the license for its development was received by Razzugol, a joint venture of Baikalinvestenergo (owned by Irkutskenergo, which is part of Eurosibenergo, controlled by Oleg Deripaska’s En + Group) and the Cypriot subsidiary of China Energy, the largest coal corporation in China. “Razzugol” plans in 2024-2027. to bring the extraction of coal in the field to the design capacity of 5 million tons and create 1,893 jobs there.
Novak also said Russia plans to sign new long-term contracts for the supply of coal to China, which is facing severe fuel shortages this fall. In 2020, supplies of Russian coal to China increased by 20.6% to 39.5 million tons.
“In the oil and gas sector, significant potential is concentrated in the part of joint exploration and development of Russian oil and gas reserves both onshore and on the continental shelf of the country, the continuation and development of oil transportation from Russia to China in 2022 along the Far Eastern routes, natural gas supplies and its processing, as well as LNG and production of petrochemical products in the east of Russia, ”the Russian government said in a statement following the meeting.
In addition, the volume of gas exports from Russia to China also increased. Thus, as of the end of October, 12 billion cubic meters were pumped eastward through the Power of Siberia pipeline. m of natural gas. The gas pipeline was put into operation at the end of 2019, then 0.328 billion cubic meters of gas were supplied through it. m of gas, in 2020 the volume of pumping amounted to 4.1 billion cubic meters. m.
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