Russian-Chinese Cooperation Prospects in the Electric Power Industry

Russia and China have long been trading partners and cooperated in most industries, including the electric power sector. Even with close and long-standing ties, the further scope of Russian-Chinese relations in the electric power sector should be defined taking into account China's currently implemented Belt and Road Initiative requiring enormous resources, particularly in commodities. An analysis of Russia's electric power market shows an imbalance between the levels of demand and supply skewing to the supply side. Russian excess supply of electricity could be feasibly channelled to China under long-term contracts. For now, such supplies have not been operated at the levels planned several years ago, which indicates low utilisation of the existing potential of cooperation between the countries in the sector. Besides, considerable potential exists for partnership between Russia and China in upgrading electric power facilities and supplying electricity equipment and its subsequent maintenance.