March 2010 Vol. 237 No. 3

Projects

Chinese Launch Commercial Operations On Second West-East Pipeline

China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) has launched commercial operations on the 2,745-km western segment of the Second West-East gas pipeline, marking a milestone in the project which, when fully completed, will be the longest pipeline transmission network in the world.

The launch of the pipeline has reduced gas shortages in Xinjiang province and will have a positive impact on supplies to Shanghai and Beijing. Its ability to significantly increase supplies will be limited because gas via the Central Asian pipeline is only due to incrementally increase to full capacity by 2015.

The pipeline launch reflects China’s efforts to construct a national gas pipeline network to improve supply distribution to residential and industrial consumers.