The commissioning ceremony for the Kovykta–Chayanda segment of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, as well as the Kovykta condensate gas field in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, was held simultaneously in multiple locations across Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Alexey Miller, CEO of Gazprom (hereinafter referred to as "Gazprom"), participated in the ceremony via video link. The commissioning of the Kovykta–Chayanda segment marks the completion of the entire Power of Siberia gas pipeline—a major strategic project in Sino-Russian energy cooperation.

At the ceremony, officials from the Kovykta gas field, the Chayanda gas field, and the Amur Gas Processing Plant—locations along the “Power of Siberia” pipeline—reported separately on their respective preparations for operations. Subsequently, Putin announced that the Kovykta gas field and the Kovykta–Chayanda pipeline segment had begun operations. Putin noted that the commissioning of this gas field not only provides foreign partners with a stable supply capacity but also injects momentum into the development of Russia’s eastern regions. The Russian Far East is currently building a robust, strategically significant production complex covering gas exploration, transportation, and processing. Once this complex becomes operational, it will ensure a continuous and reliable supply of natural gas and gas products to both domestic consumers and foreign partners.

Miller stated that currently, two key natural gas production centers in eastern Russia—Irkutsk and Yakutsk—are both supplying gas to the Power of Siberia pipeline. The full completion of the pipeline not only creates new opportunities for natural gas supply to eastern Russia over the coming decades but also provides a new guarantee for Russia to fulfill its export obligations.

The reporter learned from Gazprom that the Kovykta gas-condensate field is the largest gas field in Russia’s eastern region, with proven natural gas reserves of 1.8 trillion cubic meters and recoverable condensate reserves of 65.7 million tons. The field’s designed production capacity is 27 billion cubic meters per year.

The Power of Siberia gas pipeline was put into operation in December 2019. The first-phase pipeline runs from the Chayanda gas field, through the Russian border city of Blagoveshchensk, and into China. In the future, the pipeline’s annual gas supply to China will gradually reach the contracted volume of 38 billion cubic meters.