Russia is advancing a massive new energy project aimed at China, constructing a gas pipeline capable of transporting 50 billion cubic meters annually.

As Western nations distance themselves following the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow is pivoting toward the East, accelerating its energy cooperation with Beijing.

The pipeline—called Soyuz Vostok, or Power of Siberia 2—will span 598 miles through Mongolia and is designed to significantly boost Russia’s gas exports to China.

With Europe scaling back on Russian energy, state-run Gazprom is seeking new buyers for its vast natural gas supplies, and China, the world’s fastest-growing gas consumer, has emerged as a key partner.

The project will feature 1.42-meter-diameter pipes and five major compressor stations, underscoring its scale and importance in forging tighter energy ties between the two nations.

It builds on a landmark 30-year agreement signed in 2014, which saw the first Power of Siberia pipeline completed in 2019.

If completed, this second pipeline would shift a major portion of Russia’s energy exports away from Europe and toward China, reducing Moscow’s dependence on Western markets while solidifying a strategic energy alliance with Beijing.