China and Russia in talks after halt to power supplies
China halted Russian electricity imports after prices rose 42% above domestic rates; long-term contracts remain through 2037 with ongoing talks for possible resumption.
- On Jan. 1, China halted electricity imports from Russia and declined the minimum contracted volume, Kommersant reported; the Russian Energy Ministry told Reuters on Friday it is negotiating with Beijing for possible resumption.
- Russian electricity prices rose 42% year-on-year, while China's domestic power price remains around 350 yuan per MWh, Kommersant reported.
- Inter RAO says it exports an estimated 4 billion kilowatt-hours per year to China's State Grid Corporation, with supply contracts valid until 2037 and ongoing talks to explore electricity-trade opportunities.
- Kommersant reported that exports are unlikely to resume in 2026, as Russia prioritizes meeting growing electricity demand in Russia's Far East regions.
- Beyond the immediate halt, China-Russia energy ties remain strategic and bilateral trade still totalled $234 billion in 2024, while Power of Siberia 2 pipeline talks stall over Gazprom's delivery price.
21 Articles
21 Articles
As of January 2026, China will stop imports of electricity from Russia. The reason is increased export prices.
China halts Russian electricity imports as prices exceed domestic rates
China has suspended purchases of Russian electricity after export prices, starting in January 2026, exceeded domestic rates in China for the first time. Since the start of 2026, China has completely stopped importing electricity from Russia and isn’t buying even the minimum contractual volume - about 12 MW, Russian media reported. Sources say Russian electricity exports to China are unlikely to resume this year because the delivery price since J…
China stopped importing electricity from Russia because the export price of electricity produced in the Russian Federation exceeded domestic prices in the PRC, reported the newspaper Commersant.
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