Mongolian Extension Of Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline Completing Environmental Assessment

Mongolia is completing its environmental assessment of the Soyuz Vostok natural gas pipeline from Russia to China, according to Sergey Tsivilyov, Russia’s Energy Minister. He was speaking after a meeting with Zandaakhuugiin Enkhbold, Mongolia’s special envoy on Friday (March 21).

Tsivilyov said that “The discussion focused on the construction of the Soyuz Vostok natural gas pipeline through Mongolia, a continuation of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline. After talks with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh in September 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was considering not only its gas transit through Mongolia but also a possibility of supplying the fuel for Mongolian consumers. Now, engineering surveys are complete; and the process of assessing the environmental effect of the project is nearing completion.”

Soyuz Vostok is a trunk gas pipeline that is an extension in Mongolia of the Power of Siberia-2, the western gas supply route to China.

The Power of Siberia-2 MGP is capable of supplying up to 50 billion cubic metres of gas per year from Western Siberia to China via Mongolia. The project completion date depends on the conclusion of a contract between Gazprom and China’s CNPC, which is still under negotiation.

There are plans to use part of the supply to provide a new energy source for Ulaan Baatar, the Mongolian capital city, which is powered by elderly coal fired plants that heavily pollute the city during the winter months. Russia and Mongolia are also discussing joint projects to reconstruct a thermal power plant in Mongolia, as well as introduce the application of Russian sector-specific standards in joint projects.