Residents of Blagoveshchensk buy natural gas at 148.9 rubles per cubic meter, and the inhabitants of the Chinese Hehe on the other bank of the Amur – at 41.2 rubles. Where does this difference come from, given that the distance between cities is less than a kilometer, economist Pavel Usanov explained in an interview with a Rosbalt correspondent.
“This is opposite protectionism. We understand by protectionism the protection of the national economy from foreign producers, and in this case we see a situation where the interests of Russian consumers are sacrificed to the Chinese economy. In theory, Gazprom should be the beneficiary, but the contract with China was not signed for it on favorable terms either. However, it nevertheless has to be carried out, ”the expert noted.
According to the economist, the very fact of the conclusion of such a contract only proves that the interests of Russian consumers for the Kremlin are much lower than the potential benefits from relations with China.
“The point is this: our people will endure, but the Chinese buyer will not. If you do not fulfill the contract, there will be either sanctions or compensation will be collected through the courts. We remember that these agreements were concluded 6-7 years ago after the annexation of Crimea. During that period, many extremely disadvantageous long-term supply agreements were signed with China. In all respects, it was clear that the conditions were unfortunate. But the political situation took its toll. Now we see that it is not Gazprom that pays for these contracts, but Russian consumers, for whom gas prices have increased, ”Usanov emphasized.
The economist summed up that the political dividends from the conclusion of such contracts with China for Russia also look dubious.
Recall that the blatant difference in the price of natural gas in Blagoveshchensk and the Chinese city of Heihe is actively discussed on social networks. In 2022, in China, the price fell to 41.2 rubles per cubic meter, while in Russia it increased from 143.2 to 148.9 rubles.
Source: Rosbalt
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