Power of Siberia begins pipeline gas deliveries to China
On 2 December 2019 Gazprom and CNPC started pipeline gas through Power of Siberia, with Putin and Xi Jinping attending a video ceremony. In the causal graph this event strengthens Energy Security, a driver that strengthens Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population) — a worsening welfare path.
Read the full account
On 2 December 2019 Gazprom and CNPC started pipeline gas through Power of Siberia, with Putin and Xi Jinping attending a video ceremony.
Context
The contract had been signed in 2014. Construction ran through eastern Siberia. Putin attended; Xi attended; Gazprom dispatched. He did not weld the pipe. Eastward diversification is a price-and-geography instrument, not a European cutoff — that later halt is a different row.
The 2022 Nord Stream 1 halt is a different date and direction. The 4 February 2022 Putin–Xi statement is a neighbouring diplomatic text.
The president of the Russian Federation is commander-in-chief and can issue decrees, sign statutes the Federal Assembly has passed, and represent the state abroad. He does not write UN General Assembly resolutions, ICC warrants, or European Council conclusions.
Why it matters
The path is energy security (for the buyer) and fossil-fuel dependence (mixed): a completed long-term pipeline is a supply instrument. It does not rebate a later European cutoff.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
Vladimir Putin
PersonShared responsibility
responsibility level 0.45 · verified
He attended and politically owned the start. Gazprom dispatched. CNPC received. Xi attended for China.
Xi Jinping
PersonShared responsibility
responsibility level 0.45 · verified
He attended and politically owned the Chinese offtake. CNPC received. Gazprom dispatched. Putin attended for Russia.
What changed
Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.
- FactPower of Siberia begins pipeline gas deliveries to China
- strengthensDriverEnergy Security
- strengthensIndicators (4)Poverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population)
impact weight 0.4 · Effect from 2 December 2019 · verified
A completed eastward pipeline diversified contracted gas away from a single European corridor, for the parties to that contract.
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.25 (weight 0.4 × strength 0.62)
Observed
10.4% · 10.2 above the normal line (2024)
Worse than normal7 readings, 2018–2024: fell from 11.1% to 10.4%.
Above normal = worse
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.24 (weight 0.4 × strength 0.6)
Observed
7.97% of population aged 16 years or over · 5.2 above the normal line (2025)
Worse than normal8 readings, 2018–2025: rose from 7.77% of population aged 16 years or over to 7.97% of population aged 16 years or over.
Above normal = worse
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.2 (weight 0.4 × strength 0.5)
Observed
91.6% of population · 8.4 below the normal line (2023)
Worse than normal4 readings, 2020–2023: rose from 90.4% of population to 91.6% of population.
Above normal = better
All indicators on this path (4)
Weakens · Relationship strength 0.19 (weight 0.4 × strength 0.48)
Observed
80 Years · 2.3 below the normal line (2023)
Worse than normal6 readings, 2018–2023: rose from 79.5 Years to 80 Years.
Above normal = better
Evidence
The sources behind this fact and its verification state.
- 1.Reuters — Power of Siberia pipeline starts gas supply to ChinaReuters · High credibility · verified
- 2.Kremlin — ceremony launching Power of Siberia, 2 December 2019President of Russia · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish
President of Russia carries the official instrument or communique. Reuters records the same dated act independently.
Established: a 2 December 2019 start of Power of Siberia deliveries, with both presidents at the ceremony.
Not established: a unique later Chinese household-price coefficient, or that European 2022 shortages were this pipe.
Gazprom dispatched. CNPC received. Xi attended for China.. A later repeal, court stay, or successor order would be a different Fact with a different date. That pair identifies Power of Siberia begins pipeline gas deliveries to China, not a later speech about Power of Siberia begins pipeline gas deliveries to China.
Co-authors and later implementers named in Context remain on the file. If a later repeal, stay, or successor decree exists, it needs its own date and its own row. The contribution described on this Person row is limited to He attended and politically owned the start. Gazprom dispatched. CNPC received. Xi attended for China. That limit is the alternative to treating office-holding as authorship of every later series.
Causal path
How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.
- Actors (2)Vladimir Putin
- contributed toFactPower of Siberia begins pipeline gas deliveries to China
- strengthensDriverEnergy Security
- strengthensIndicatorPoverty headcount ratio at $3.00 a day (2021 PPP) (% of population)
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). Power of Siberia begins pipeline gas deliveries to China. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/ru-power-of-siberia-2019
https://factrail.ai/facts/ru-power-of-siberia-2019
Accessed 15 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
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