The Asia Pacific Region in Russia’s International Energy Cooperation in the 21st Century

Mishchenko Ya.V.

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of today’s international energy cooperation which Russia is developing in the Asia-Pacific region. The paper draws on the current and latest official Russian energy strategies – «Energy Strategy of Russia for the period up to 2030» and «Energy strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2035» as well as «Report on the implementation of the Energy Strategy of Russia for the period up to 2030» of 2018. In the focus is the role that the Energy strategy of Russia attaches to the energy cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region within the context of overall country’s policy in energy-related matters. A critical analysis of the current Energy Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2035 shows that although this document is complex and comprehensive, it focuses mainly on the expansion of sales of Russian hydrocarbons abroad and overlooks the issues of finding ways to prevent the depletion of Russian hydrocarbon reserves, which may begin in the oil sector in about 25 years from now. Drawing on statistical analysis of today’s foreign trade relations of Russia in the field of energy, the author identifies its key partners in this area, the countries of Europe and the CIS still being the most important destinations of export of Russian hydrocarbons. At the same time, the Asia Pacific countries are rapidly increasing their share. Still, so far only one type of hydrocarbons in their share of supplies from Russia exceeds the indicators of European countries, this being liquefied natural gas (LNG). Described are various aspects of diversification of Russia's international energy cooperation in the Eastern direction as well as the current goals and objectives of Russian energy policy and diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Keywords

Russia; Japan; China; South Korea; energy; energy cooperation; proved energy reserves.

DOI: 10.31249/rsm/2019.04.02

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