The Role of the Far East in Russia’s Foreign Energy Policy Agenda

Candidate of Sciences (Economics), Senior Research Fellow, Economic Research Institute of Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 153 Tikhookeanskaya Street, Khabarovsk, Russia, 680042

^* Corresponding author: demina@ecrin.ru

Abstract

The evolution of goals and objectives of the Energy Strategy of Russia for the period from 2003 to 2020 is considered. It is shown that the main priority of the foreign energy policy is to maintain and strengthen the country’s position in the world markets. It is determined that the country is actually consolidating the strategy of increasing production with the subsequent export of hydrocarbon raw materials. It is noted that the target indicators of the strategy, along with the share of Asia-Pacific countries in the geographical structure of Russian energy exports, is an increase in the share of primary energy production in Eastern Siberia and the Far East. The role of the Far East in Russia’s foreign energy policy agenda is analyzed. It is determined that the Far East acts as a transit territory and as a hydrocarbon and coal resource base. The development of the fuel and energy complex in the region is carried out within the framework of large energy projects in four categories: the Eastern Siberia - Pacific Ocean oil pipeline (ESPO) and the development of fields along the pipeline route; a set of interrelated projects within the Eastern Gas Program; development of the coal industry and related rail and port infrastructure; cross-border electricity exports to China