Moscow - (AFP) - The Russian giant Gazprom announced on Tuesday that it had given the go-ahead to conduct tests at the site of the Kovykta gas field in Siberia, which is supposed to increase in the coming months the Russian gas export capacity to China in light of the war in Ukraine.

"(This is) an important step in the implementation of the Spiria power project and the establishment of new gas production centers in the east of the country," said the company's president, Alexei Miller, in a press statement.

Miller described the Kovkyta gas field as a "vital resource base" for "development of gas supplies to Russia's eastern regions" as well as for "export", particularly to China and South Korea.

The start of tests from the gas field near Lake Baikal in Siberia is a prerequisite for the gas to be transported to the Power of Siberia 1 gas pipeline that since the end of 2019 connects the Qiandina field (in Yakutia) with northeastern China.

The announcement comes at a time when Russian gas shipments to Europe have fallen sharply in recent months on the back of the geopolitical crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine.

In the statement, Miller said that the connection of the Kovikta field to Power of Siberia 1, expected in the next few months, "will give a boost ... and increase the supply of foreign consumers." It is supposed to allow a significant increase in shipments of Russian gas to China in the coming years.

In mid-September, Russian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of energy Alexander Novak indicated that Gazprom would increase its shipments to 20 billion cubic meters of gas each year, mainly by drawing on the reserves of the Kovikta field.

In 2025, when it reaches its maximum capacity, the Siberia Power Line 1 will produce about 61 billion cubic meters annually, more than Nord Stream, which can transport 55 billion cubic meters but has been closed since the beginning of September in Europe and had leaks at the end of September September, its circumstances were not clear.

Russia also plans to build Force Siberia 2 from 2024 to supply China via Mongolia, another sign that Russia's energy strategy has already turned east.