Explained: Why gas pipeline from Russia to China matters

4,000 km pipleine, $400 billion deal, for delivery of 38 billion cubic metres annually for 30 years

The over 4,000 km gas pipeline has an annual capacity of over 61 billion cubic metres and passes through wetlands, mountainous terrains, seismically active zones, areas of permafrost and rocky ground. (Representational image)

On Monday, Chinese and Russian Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin inaugurated the first cross-border pipeline between their countries, called the “Power of Siberia”. Gas supply to China via this pipe has started.