Gazprom to start gas supplies to China ahead of schedule

Russia’s Gazprom will start gas supplies to China from December 1, 2019, a month earlier than planned, according to the gas producer's website.

Following talks with its Chinese partner CNPC in Beijing, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said flows would start on December 1- ahead of previous guidance of December 20.

In the second year of operations - 2021 - supplies are expected to ramp up to 10 Bcm before ramping up to capacity in 2022-23, S&P Global reported.

Gazprom added that China had become the largest importer of gas in the world in 2018, with imports of 125.7 Bcm, up 31% year on year.

Deliveries of gas to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline were due to begin at the end of December 2019, but the project is only expected to reach full capacity in 2025.