Mongolia remains confident in the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project, which aims to transport Russian natural gas to China. Despite its omission from the government’s action plan and limited updates from Russia and China, Deputy Prime Minister Gantumur Luvsannyam confirms negotiations are ongoing and successful. He attributes the project’s exclusion from planning to the need for broader consensus.
Mongolia is optimistic regarding the continuation of the Power of Siberia 2 project, a significant gas pipeline linking Russia and China. This optimism persists despite ongoing geopolitical tensions that might affect the dynamics among Beijing, Moscow, and Washington. The pipeline is projected to transport 50 billion cubic meters (1.8 trillion cubic feet) of Russian natural gas annually to China through Mongolia, a crucial shift given the gas previously supplied to Europe.
Although the Mongolian government excluded the Power of Siberia 2 from its 2024-2028 work programme and recent updates from Chinese and Russian officials have been scarce, Mongolia’s first deputy prime minister, Gantumur Luvsannyam, emphasized that negotiations are still on track. He noted that talks concerning the project are making headway, contrary to perceptions of stagnation.
Luvsannyam clarified that the exclusion from the action programme was due to the complexity of the matter, stating, “The reason why it’s not included in the action programme of the government of Mongolia is because it is an issue that cannot be decided one-sidedly by [the Mongolian cabinet].” This statement underlines the intricacies involved in the decision-making processes concerning international infrastructure projects.
In summary, Mongolia maintains a positive outlook on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project despite geopolitical challenges. The possibility of the pipeline, which would redirect substantial amounts of Russian gas to China, reflects a significant shift in energy supply channels. Luvsannyam’s remarks affirm that negotiations are progressing, highlighting the collaborative nature of such international undertakings.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
