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External pressures on Russia鈥檚 oil and gas industry have compelled the country to seek partnerships with Asia-based companies to help with the production and marketing of its vast hydrocarbon resources, says an analyst with research and consulting firm GlobalData.

According to Anna Belova, GlobalData鈥檚 Upstream Analyst covering the Former Soviet Union, Russia鈥檚 oil and gas industry has been hit hard by expanded US and EU sanctions within its financial and energy sectors, announced on 12 September last year.

The industry now faces limited access to financing, as well as limitations on technology transfers for unconventional and offshore developments.

Belova says: 鈥淭hese sanctions have led Western companies to reduce their operations in Russia. ExxonMobil and North Atlantic Drilling suspended their deals with Rosneft, while Schlumberger recalled some of its managerial and technical personnel from the country.

鈥淎s a result, the Russian government and industry operators have intensified their pursuit of partnerships with Asia-based interests, with countries such as China, India, and Turkey being the likeliest trading partners for Russia over the next decade. Following the cancellation of the South Stream gas pipeline to Europe on 1 December last year, Russia鈥檚 immediate alternative was to propose a subsea pipeline across the Black Sea for deliveries to Turkey.鈥�

In addition to this project, Belova states that Russia and China also signed a memorandum of understanding on a new gas pipeline, Altai, on 9 November. Altai, the second gas pipeline to China announced last year, will connect Russia鈥檚 West Siberian fields to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

The analyst continues: 鈥淎nother major deal in Russia鈥檚 oil and gas industry is the potential sale of a small equity in Vankorneft, a subsidiary of Rosneft, to China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), which will allow Rosneft to strengthen its relationship with one of its largest potential market partners.

鈥淰ankorneft holds licenses for several fields in Eastern Siberia, including Vankorskoye, Russia鈥檚 largest field to be put into production in the last 25 years. Vankorskoye feeds into the Eastern Siberia鈥揚acific Ocean pipeline, with the majority of its crude output contracted to CNPC in China.鈥�

Belova concludes that Russia鈥檚 deals with Asian countries are a prudent response to Western sanctions, as the new partnerships provide financing for Russian projects and secure a long-term demand centre for the country鈥檚 resources in growing Asian markets.

Adapted from press release聽by

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