A project plan for the Soyuz/Vostok gas pipeline which will link Russia to China via Mongolia was signed on February 28 by Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan, Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister, and Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gazprom, in an online meeting.

The signing could attract some controversy given ongoing attempts by several countries to force Russia into an economic space with sanctions and boycotts in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Germany, for example, froze the proposed Nord Stream 2 pipeline to deliver Russian gas to Europe.

At the end of January, Mongolia and Gazprom signed a protocol to complete a feasibility study for the Soyuz/Vostok gas pipeline.

The project plan covers an agreement for the next stage of the project, including design, engineering exploration work and licensing of Russian contractors.

“Today we ratify our work plan for the next three years, starting in 2022,” Miller at the signing. “I am happy to inform you that my deputy worked very hard with you to get this proposal approved. Our joint working group also did a good job. If we continue to work this way, the effort will be effective “.

“An experienced company working on the Siberian Power-1 and 2 projects will carry out engineering-geodesy, engineering-ecology and archaeological exploration of the gas pipeline project,” Amarsaikhan told reporters. “Many researchers will come to work in our country. As the contract was signed today, the research will start in March and continue as planned.”

There were no remarks from the Deputy Prime Minister on Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine.