China's National Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Group has announced the completion of construction on the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline. The pipeline is now entering its final commissioning phase.

The 5,111-kilometer pipeline, with 3,371 kilometers of newly constructed sections, stretches from Heihe in Heilongjiang province to Shanghai. 

Once fully operational, it is expected to deliver 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to regions including northeast China, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, and the Yangtze River Delta.

The pipeline is projected to meet the annual gas needs of 130 million urban households, alleviating supply constraints in these regions. 

With ever-growing gas demand in China, the pipeline is seen as a crucial step in securing regional natural gas supply and promoting a clean, low-carbon energy system.

The completion of the east-route pipeline comes amid ongoing negotiations between Russia and China over the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, a 2,600-kilometer project that would connect Russia's western gas fields to China. 

Following stalled talks between Moscow and Beijing due to cost disagreements, concerns have been raised about potential delays in the construction of this pipeline, particularly due to geopolitical tensions and logistical challenges.