A new pipe for transporting gas from Russia to China, which can pass through the Ukok Plateau in the Altai Republic, poses a big environmental threat. This was stated by representatives of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Greenpeace. They insist:.

gas pipeline route must be changed. On the construction of the "Forces of Siberia-2" "Gazprom" and the Chinese CNPC agreed in 2015. It is assumed that the pipe will be laid from Western Siberia to Novosibirsk further to the Russian-Chinese border.. All common questions are agreed, the parties should discuss the details by the end of this year.. However, environmentalists from international organizations intervened in the negotiation process.. They fear that the "Power of Siberia-2" will go through the section of the so-called Golden Mountains of Altai - the Ukok Plateau. The construction work, in their opinion, will cause significant damage to the fragile alpine soils, will adversely affect the flora and fauna of the region. “We urge the leadership of Russia and China in the event of the decision to build the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline to choose a route that does not affect the Ukok Plateau,” RIA Novosti informs environmental organizations. - WWF and Greenpeace do not call for a ban on pipelines and industrial development, but point to the need to comply with environmental legislation and minimize damage to nature, "ecologists point out. Meanwhile, their care takes the form of overt threats.. “If the Russian Federation does not give an unequivocal answer about the rejection of this construction option, the Golden Mountains of Altai world heritage site could be transferred to the UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list as early as next year,” the organizations warned. The press service of Gazprom has already replied to RIA Novosti that the environmental legislation of the Russian Federation will in any case be fully complied with..