Central Asian countries discussing shared cut in gas supplies to China: Uzbekneftegaz
Central Asian gas producers Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are discussing a shared cut in gas supplies to China, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on demand, Uzbekneftegaz CEO Mekhriddin Abdullaev told S&P Global Platts Tuesday.As Li Keqiang, these days Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China said, you can't trust the official Chinese econ numbers. As relayed by U.S. Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt, Jr. back to the State Department in 2007 and leaked by Wikileaks:
“China requested a cut, but indicated that any reduction in gas supplies would be carried out proportionally between Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan,” Abdullaev said in emailed comments.
“A coordinating committee of the three Central Asian countries that supply gas to China is discussing exact volumes. A decision has not yet been made,” he added.
Chinese demand for gas has fallen this year as a result of measures introduced to combat the spread of the coronavirus. In March Kazakhstan said it cut natural gas supplies to China by 20%-25% after PetroChina issued a force majeure notice on imports.
The three Central Asian countries ship gas to China via the Central Asia–China gas pipeline network, which has a design capacity of 55 Bcm a year.
Uzbekistan supplies around 10 Bcm/year of gas to China, UNG said. Chinese Customs data indicated that in 2019 Kazakhstan exported 7.1 Bcm, and Turkmenistan 33.2 Bcm....MORE
...(C) GDP figures are "man-made" and therefore unreliable, Li said. When evaluating Liaoning's economy, he focuses on three figures: 1) electricity consumption, which was up 10 percent in Liaoning last year; 2) volume of rail cargo, which is fairly accurate because fees are charged for each unit of weight; and 3) amount of loans disbursed, which also tends to be accurate given the interest fees charged. By looking at these three figures, Li said he can measure with relative accuracy the speed of economic growth. All other figures, especially GDP statistics, are "for reference only," he said smiling....At the time Mr. Li was "only" the Party Secretary of Liaoning province but he had already been highlighted as potential President material before Xi Jinping moved in.
If you've ever wondered why every China watcher talks electricity when talking China GDP Mr. Li's observation is the reason why.
Western analysts should probably include natural gas as well.
