China suspends electricity imports from Russia

(Patria) - China has suspended electricity imports from Russia, Russian Kommersant reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.

Kommersant linked the production suspension to higher electricity prices in Russia compared to prices in China.

The Russian Ministry of Energy told Reuters that the priority is to meet the growing demand for electricity in the Russian Far East, but that it could continue supplies to China depending on agreed terms.

"Russia could continue exporting electricity to China if it receives an appropriate request from Beijing and if mutually beneficial terms of cooperation are reached," the statement said, but did not specify whether the decision to suspend supplies was made by China or Russia.

Russia's electricity exporter to China, InterRAO, stated that the Chinese side, with whom they claim to be in constant contact, "has also not expressed any interest in terminating the contract".

The contract, signed in 2012, envisages the supply of about 100 billion kilowatt-hours to China over 25 years.