| Unexpectedly. |
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak confirmed to Russian television station RossiyA-1 on Sept. 15 that the Force Siberia 2 gas pipeline to China will replace the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Europe, which was shut down during the Russia-Ukraine war, and deliver 50 billion cubic metres of gas a year to China. That is close to the 55 billion cubic meters of annual capacity of Nord Stream 2 and Nord Stream 1. Construction of the new pipeline will begin in 2024.The annual capacity of the Force Siberia 1 pipeline from Far East Russia to China, which opened at the end of 2019, will also be increased to 20 billion cubic meters this year and to 61 billion cubic meters by 2025.