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Can Russia just switch to selling gas to China?
It’s not so easy
A lesson in geography.
Look at the map above, showing Russia’s major pipeline routes. Do you notice something? 90% of them are travelling East to West i.e: to Europe.
The limited pipeline that Russia has to China at present took seven years to build. Now they are boasting of a pipeline that will carry as much as Nordstream but to China-with construction starting in 2024. They claim a year later it will be in full production, having spent considerably time in Russia, this is wildly optimistic.
Most governments have white elephants and cost blow outs but Russia takes it to a whole new level. Despite cheaper labor and input costs, 1km of road in Moscow, for example, has the highest cost of construction in the world. Why? Because of the rampant corruption. So a big pipeline travelling through several oblasts(counties/states) and through Mongolia? You bet someone will be charged an arm and a leg.
A lesson in economics
First, China is going through a rough spot at the moment. It has a housing crisis of overbuilt construction with highly indebted…
