CNPC announced on August 12, 2016, that the company started laying the fourth Shaanxi-Beijing gas pipeline, a huge project that will help in boosting natural gas supply to North China and help tackle choking smog within the region.
The Fourth Shaan-Beijing Gas Pipeline includes a trunk line and three branches. The trunk line and one branch, covering a total mileage of 1,114km, will be built at the first phase. The trunk line is expected to be completed in October 2017, with a designed annual deliverability of 25bcm. It will run from the initial station in Jingbian, Shaanxi, go across Inner Mongolia and Hebei, and end at Gaoliying Terminal Station in Beijing. 5 compressor stations will be deployed along the pipeline.
In early August 2016, welding works of the Fourth Shaan-Beijing Gas Pipeline commenced in Ulanqab city, Inner Mongolia, following equipment testing and trial welding at different sections in Beijing and Inner Mongolia since July 11, 2016.
The Fourth Shaan-Beijing Gas Pipeline will serve as an important channel for delivering imported gas from Central Asia and gas produced in West China, as well as an extension of the West-East Gas Pipelines. Specifically, it will play a major role in boosting natural gas supply to North China, especially for winter peak shaving, and helping mitigate air pollution within the region.
Moscow and Beijing have also been talking about building another pipeline, the Power of Siberia-2, or the western route to deliver an additional 30 billion cubic meters of gas to China annually. Even though the pipeline hasn’t been officially launched, Gazprom is already preparing the infrastructure, Vedomosti daily reported in July 2016.
