China and our energy

Among the three pacts on energy cooperation signed between Russia and China during President Vladimir Putin’s Beijing visit last month, Moscow’s willingness to export up to 80 billion cu. m. of natural gas to energy-hungry China has caught the global energy community’s attention. Russia has immense importance on the global market, with the largest reserve of natural gas and the second largest reserve of oil. The geographical proximity of Russia and remoteness from Persian Gulf energy geopolitics makes it more attractive to the import-dependent, energy-voracious countries in the Asian region.

India needs to take three dimensions into account in considering importing energy from Russia. First, our long-term energy interest in Russia. Second, the factor of Chinese competition in acquiring overseas energy. Finally, China’s energy strategy.

Financial Express