FEATURE: Gaining ground - Gazprom and the Russian independents

摘要

Despite the signature of a legally binding preliminary agreement for the Western Route, or Altai gas pipeline to China, Gazprom still faces significant challenges implementing its eastern supply strategy. In April 2015 the company’s investment programme rose to RUB 1.6 trillion (USD 32.5 billion) according to company data, but Gazprom now risks overstretching itself with its ambitious pipeline projects. The Russian giant will have to finance South Stream successor Turk Stream on its own, build the Power of Siberia (POS) line, also perhaps on its own, and contribute financially to the construction of the third and fourth lines of the Nord Stream pipeline.