Power of Siberia was put into operation. The pipeline, through which Russian gas will be supplied from Yakutia to various Russian regions and China, was launched. The leaders of the two countries Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping today launched the project via a video conference. The length of the pipeline from the Chayandinskoye field to the Chinese border is over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles). About 38 billion cubic meters (4.8 trillion cubic feet) of fuel per year will be supplied along this route. The supplies begin when China is actively switching its industry from coal to oil and gas and the Asian market is becoming the most promising in the world.
Our correspondents today worked at the key sections of Power of Siberia. Olga Armyakova and Alexander Balitsky reported from the Russian-Chinese border. Alexander Rudenko reported from the Chayandinskoye field. Here are their reports.
While Putin was putting on a headset to listen to simultaneous interpretation in his office, President Xi appeared to solemn music. There was a video conference between Sochi and Beijing. There'll now be a power bridge between the two countries forever. There are 180 kilometers (110 miles) to the Chinese border from here, and Power of Siberia is Russia's final frontier. This is the central control desk of the Atamanskaya compressor station. The large-scale project will be launched any minute now. There were several cameras for broadcasting and lights. Gazprom CEO went on the air from the Atamanskaya station.
- Shall I have the pipeline valve opened?
- Go ahead.
- Please command to begin receiving gas.
- Go ahead.
- Congratulations!
Russia opened the way to the East. The giant infrastructure project Power of Siberia, having strategic significance, is the first Russian-Chinese pipeline. They put it into operation three weeks ahead of the schedule.
Vladimir Putin: “Today is a special day and a truly historic event not only for the global energy market but primarily for us – for Russia and China. The Power of Siberia gas pipeline will deliver over a trillion cubic meters (35 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas to China over the next 30 years.”
Moscow and Beijing concluded that deal, which is called the gas contract of the century, in 2014. They began active construction works on both sides of the Amur almost immediately.
Xi Jinping, President of China: "This is a seminal project of bilateral energy cooperation and serves as an example of the deep integration and mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries. The pipeline is supposed to promote the development of the regions it crosses. Thank you, Mr. Putin. Thank you all".
The pipeline is almost 2,000 kilometers long (1,200 miles). It goes along snow-capped hills and crosses impenetrable taiga where there's deep-frozen soil and extremely low temperatures up to -60°C (-76°F). Power of Siberia is primarily the power of people, those who built it.
Alexei Miller, Gazprom CEO: "Both the people and the equipment have pulled through. About 10,000 people and 5,000 different machines worked at Chayandinskoye".
The first section of Power of Siberia begins in Yakutia — at the Chayandinskoye field. The pipeline then goes to the Kovyktinskoye field, which is in Irkutsk Oblast. It's the biggest one in Eastern Russia. They'll begin to supply gas from there only in 2023.
Vladimir Putin: "For our country, for Russia, this project is important not just because gas will be exported but also because it will deliver gas to the Amur Gas Processing Plant, which will become one of the most powerful in the world".
It'll be a giant plant. This is a modern complex located near the city of Svobodny. The first start-up facility of the Amur Gas Processing Plant is like a launching pad at a cosmodrome. These giants, which look like rockets, are gas splitter units. This is where the main technological processes will take place. They'll extract valuable components from the natural gas supplied through Power of Siberia. It's more profitable to sell them separately.
Evgeny Shilkin, deputy chief engineer: "This will account for about half of global helium refining — up to 60 million cubic meters of helium (2.1 billion cubic feet) per year".
A huge gas chemical cluster will be built next to the plant. It means thousands of new jobs.
Vladimir Putin: “I sincerely thank the engineers, the builders, all of the employees of Gazprom, China National Petroleum Corporation, and contractor companies for their high professionalism and excellent work, which was completed ahead of schedule.”
Power of Siberia will boost the economies of both countries, especially since Russia and China are already negotiating an increase in supplies.
This compressor unit is the iron heart of Power of Siberia. It's the main engine that makes gas flow along the pipeline. It gives it impetus by compressing gas and increasing the pressure for it to reach China.
Beijing called this event historical and the Eastern route the project of the century. Just as five years ago when the decision to launch it was made at the highest level, the presidents of Russia and China today launched the project. The Great Hall of the People is the venue for state events of exceptional importance. Employees of the Chinese gas corporation polished their pins as well as they could. Meanwhile, everything was already prepared to receive Siberian gas in Heihe. This is the first gas storage of nine and the compressor unit. People in the village near Heihe also heard about the new gas pipeline.
"They already laid pipes to the houses. For now, we use gas cylinders. They're also Russian-made. And here's a pipe. We'll use it for heating and cooking".
Power of Siberia, which will provide China with one trillion cubic meters of gas (35 trillion cubic feet), which Russia should supply to China in the next 30 years under the contract, consists of three parts — the northern one where the supplies begin, the middle one, which is 1,100 kilometers long (680 miles), and the southern one, which will go to Shanghai where the works aren't completed yet.
Lu Sunjan, foreman: “The robot welder works inside the pipeline, and we control it from here. Like this. And eight welders begin moving inside. They're like real hands.”
The Chinese engineers say that these pipes have the biggest diameter in the world and made of the strongest steel. However, this isn't the most important thing. The development of gas supply will bring new enterprises to North China, where 70 million people live, and energy independence to the country.
Zai Deui, deputy project manager: “This is the biggest energy project for our countries. And it'll provide an opportunity to introduce large-scale changes to where there's a shortage of energy resources.”
In Heilongjiang, they already appreciated using gas in the local restaurants.
"Of course, it's easier and faster to cook using gas".
Factories liked it because it produces no emissions to the atmosphere.
Lin Ziweng, factory manager: "You don't imagine what was here two years ago when we used coal. The sky was black, there was smog. Now, we can finally see everything, even the sky".
The first meters of the pipeline, through which Russian gas is supplied to China where it continues to flow along the Chinese section of Power of Siberia, are located under these plates near Heihe. Power of Siberia is called the Eastern Route here. The gas pipeline will be over 3,000 kilometers long (1,800 miles).
Everything began 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) to the north from here, in Yakutia. Here's the source of Power of Siberia: the giant gas pipeline begins right here — in deep Yakut taiga and extends to the Chinese border. It's over 2,000 kilometers long (1,200 miles). The gas pipeline goes underground, above ground, over rivers and ravines, and far beyond the horizon.
There were oil and gas exploration, drilling, construction of rotational camps, and laying pipes. Finally, the stele at the new road to the Chayandinskoye field was installed.
Ivan Khorev, geological department head: "We feel euphoria and happiness. We've finally achieved it. We've achieved gas supplies".
It's comparatively warm in taiga now. It's -22°C (-7,6°F). But they worked even when it was -60°C (-76°F). This is a so-called well pad — several wells where Siberian gas is extracted. There are over one trillion cubic meters of gas (35 trillion cubic feet) underneath. The entire country built Power of Siberia. Over 800 companies supplied materials and equipment. The strategic project boosted the development of the northern territories. Gas industry workers help put things in order in remote settlements. For example, they drained a swamp in the downtown of Yakutia's Berkakit. There's a Christmas tree and children's playground here.
Vladimir Dobrynin, head of Berkakit: "The residents have seen that we're repairing internal roads, putting border stones, laying asphalt, making parking lots broader".
Power of Siberia goes through Lensk, Aldan, Neryungri, Svobodny. The route was designed in such a way so that they could develop gas infrastructure in as many towns as possible. Yakutia's indigenous people — the Evenks from Ingra will be the first to receive gas.
Kirill Kirillov, reindeer herder: It was when they began to build it.
- Power of Siberia?
- Yes. They said that we'll receive gas.
- Do you look forward to it?
- Of course, I do. It'll be easier.
There are now new roads, junctions, and bridges between dozens of settlements along the pipeline.
Alexander Rudenko, Olga Armyakova, Alexander Balitsky, Evgeny Kirilenko, Konstantin Morozov, Mikhail Artyukhin for Vesti from Yakutia, Amur Oblast, Beijing.
