Central Asia-China gas pipeline

The Central Asia-China gas pipeline (known also as "Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline") is a planned natural gas pipeline to transport natural gas from Central Asia to Xinjiang in China. It is expected that Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will deliver their natural gas to China through this pipeline.

History

The Central Asia-China gas pipeline idea was firstly presented as the Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline, which was to follow to the Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline. In June 2003, during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Kazakhstan, agreements to expedite the appraisal of the project were signed.cite news
url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/BAT/105031.htm
title=China, Kazakhstan Discuss Cross-border Gas Pipeline
publisher=China Daily
date=2004-08-25
accessdate=2007-07-27] Following to this, KazMunayGas and PetroChina started feasibility study of the pipeline project. At the same time China continued negotiations with other Central Asian countries. On 3 April 2006 China and Turkmenistan signed a framework agreement on the pipeline construction and long-term gas supply.cite news
author = Daniel Kimmage
url=http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/04/55f9574d-407a-4777-9724-944e6c2ecd7b.html
title=Central Asia: Turkmenistan-China Pipeline Project Has Far-Reaching Implications
publisher=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
date=2006-04-10
accessdate=2007-07-27] In June 2007 during his visit to China, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow signed an accord to speed up implementation of the Turkmen-Chinese gas pipeline project. On 30 April 2007 , Uzbekistan and China signed an agreement regarding the construction and exploitation of the pipeline's Uzbekistan section.cite news
url=http://www.caucaz.com/home_eng/depeches.php?idp=1645
title=Uzbekistan and China to build gas pipeline
publisher=Caucaz.com
date=2007-05-01
accessdate=2007-07-27] In July 2007, it was announced that Turkmenistan will join original Kazakhstan-China pipeline project.cite news
url=http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/07/04/afx3883648.html
title=Turkmenistan to join China, Kazakhstan pipeline project - KazMunaiGas EP CEO
publisher=Forbes
date=2007-07-04
accessdate=2007-07-27] On 8 November 2007, Kazakhstan's oil company KazMunayGas signed an agreement with the China National Petroleum Corporation on principles of future work on the pipeline.cite news
url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL0888292120071108
title=Kazakhstan, China agree to press ahead with pipeline
author=Maria Golovnina
publisher=Reuters
date=2007-11-08
accessdate=2008-03-15]

Construction

On 30 August 2007, Turkmenistan's media reported that the construction of the convert|188|km|mi|0 long Turkmen section of the pipeline has begun. This section will be built by Stroytransgaz, a subsidiary of Gazprom.cite news
url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL194546920080219
title=Russian company wins Turkmen China pipeline tender
author=Marat Gurt
publisher=Reuters
date=2008-02-19
accessdate=2008-03-15] The Uzbek section will be built by Asia Trans Gas, a joint venture of Uzbekneftegas and CNPC. Construction of Uzbek section started on 30 June 2008.cite news
url=http://www.downstreamtoday.com/News/Articles/200807/Central_Asia_China_Gas_Pipeline_To_Start_11700.aspx
title=Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline To Start Service Next Year
publisher= Downstream Today
date=2008-07-03
accessdate=2008-07-07] The Kazakh section will be built by the joint venture of CNPC and KazMunayGas.cite news
url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article152009.ece
title=Beijing digs in with Kazakh pipes
publisher= Upstream Online
date=2008-04-09
accessdate=2008-04-19] Construction works of this section started on 9 July 2008.cite news
url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article158831.ece
title=Kazakhstan gets cracking on China pipe
publisher= Upstream Online
date=2008-07-09
accessdate=2008-07-09]

Technical features

If constructed, the whole pipeline will be about convert|7000|km|mi|-2 long, of which convert|188|km|mi|0 will be Turkmen section, convert|530|km|mi|-1 Uzbek section and convert|4500|km|mi|-2 Chinese section.cite news
url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article139613.ece
title=Turkmen break ground on China pipe
publisher=Upstream Online
date=2007-08-30
accessdate=2007-09-09] The first stage of the pipeline would be completed in 2009. The second stage, adding second pipe and increasing capacity up to 30 bcm of natural gas annually, is projected to be completed in 2011.cite news
url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/incoming/article152400.ece
title=Uzbek joins CNPC in pipeline deal
publisher=Upstream Online
date=2008-04-14
accessdate=2008-04-19] It will be supplied from the Karachaganak, Tengiz and Kashagan gas fields in Kazakhstan, as well from the gas fields of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The pipeline is expected to cost US$7.3 billion.cite news
url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/business/2007/12/30/137003/China-National.htm
title=China National Petroleum subsidiaries to pay billions for Central Asia gas pipeline
publisher=The China Post
date=2007-12-30
accessdate=2008-06-01]

Possible route

The exact pipeline route has not been released.cite news
author = Isabel Gorst; Mure Dickie
url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/880934d2-353b-11dc-bb16-0000779fd2ac.html
title=China in gas deal with Turkmenistan
publisher=Financial Times
date=2007-07-18
accessdate=2007-07-27] It expected that the pipeline would start from gas fields on the right bank of Amu Darya in Turkmenistan. The pipeline will enter Uzbekistan in Olot and will then run across Uzbekistan to southern Kazakhstan through the existing the Bukhara-Ural pipeline or the prolonged Bukhara-Tashkent-Bishkek-Almaty pipeline.cite news
url=http://www.downstreamtoday.com/News/Articles/200707/ANALYSIS_Turkmen_Gas_Deal_Extends_Chine_5015.aspx
title= Analysis: Turkmen Gas Deal Extends Chinese Influence
publisher= Downstream Today
date=2007-07-26
accessdate=2007-07-27] cite journal
author = Mehmet Ögütçü
url=http://www.dundee.ac.uk/cepmlp/journal/html/Vol17/Vol17_8.pdf
title= Kazakhstan's expanding cross-border gas links. Implications for Europe, Russia, China and other CIS countries. Presented at the Windsor Energy Group’s Regional Pipelines Roundtable, Almaty
publisher= The Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee
format = PDF
date=2006-10-02
accessdate=2007-07-27
unused_data= The CEPMLP Internet Journal] From Kazakhstan the new pipeline will run to Alashankou in China, where it will be connected to the West-East Gas Pipeline. There are also considerations to construct a new gas pipeline from Ishim in Russia's western Siberia to Alashankou through Astana and Karaganda or a new gas pipeline from Chelkar in western Kazakhstan through Kyzyl-Orda to Shymkent where it would connect with the Bukhara-Tashkent-Bishkek-Almaty pipeline.

ee also

* Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline
* Central Asia-Center gas pipeline system
* Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline

References