MOSCOW, October 10. /TASS/. China plans to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Russia on gas supplies via the Power of Siberia gas pipeline (the so-called eastern route) in the nearest future, Russia’s gas giant Gazprom said on Friday after a meeting between its CEO Alexey Miller and China’s Executive Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.

“The document is at a final stage and may be signed in the nearest future. The meeting focused on further steps to prepare the project for gas supplies via the 'western route.' The key documents will be signed: an intergovernmental agreement, a commercial contract and a technical agreement,” Gazprom said.

Miller also met with chairman of the board of directors of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Zhou Jiping to discuss the implementation of a project for Russian gas supplies to China via the 'eastern route.' The sides agreed that the project proceeded according to schedule. Apart from that, Miller and Zhou discussed in detail the schedule of further talks on the signing of a contract for Russian gas supplies to China via the 'western route.'

At a meeting with chairman of the board of directors of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Wang Yilin, Miller discussed prospects of Gazprom’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to China. It was noted that CNOOC had a vast experience in prospecting and developing shelf fields and constructing sea pipelines.

The top priority at the current talks was attributed to the 'western route.' A contract is being prepared for the supplies of 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The project Altai has a very high degree of readiness for the launch of construction works. Further on, the pipeline’s second and third sections may be added, thus bringing its capacity up to 100 billion cubic meters per year.

The 'western route' provides for the supplies of gas from Western Siberia to China.