Central Asia–China gas pipeline

Central Asia–China gas pipeline
The route of the gas pipeline
Location
Country	Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China
General direction	south–north-east
From	Right bank of Amu Darya, Saman-Depe, Turkmenistan
Passes through	Olot, Shymkent, Alataw Pass
To	Horgos, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China (connected to West–East Gas Pipeline)
Runs alongside	Bukhara–Tashkent–Bishkek–Almaty pipeline, Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline
General information
Type	natural gas
Partners	China National Petroleum Corporation Türkmengaz Uzbekneftegas KazMunayGas
Construction started	2007
Commissioned	2009
Technical information
Length	1,833 km (1,139 mi)
Maximum discharge	55 billion cubic metres per annum (1.9×10^12 cu ft/a)
Diameter	1,067 mm (42 in)

The Central Asia–China gas pipeline (known also as Turkmenistan–China gas pipeline) is a natural gas pipeline system from Central Asia to Xinjiang in the People's Republic of China.

The initial proposal for Central Asia–China gas pipeline was presented as the Kazakhstan–China gas pipeline, which was to follow along the Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline. In June 2003, during China's President Hu Jintao's visit to Kazakhstan, agreements to expedite the appraisal of the project were signed. Following these agreements, KazMunayGas and PetroChina started a 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. In June 2007, during his visit to China, Turkmeni President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow signed an accord to speed up implementation of the Turkmeni-Chinese gas pipeline project. On 30 April 2007, Uzbekistan and China signed an agreement on the construction and exploitation of the pipeline's Uzbekistan section. In July 2007, it was formally announced that Turkmenistan will join original Kazakhstan-China pipeline project. 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.

On 30 August 2007, the construction of the 188 kilometres (117 mi) long Turkmen section of the pipeline began. This section was built by Stroytransgaz, a subsidiary of Gazprom. Main contractors were China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau, China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation, and Zeromax. Construction of the Uzbek section started on 30 June 2008. It was built by Asia Trans Gas, a joint venture of Uzbekneftegas and CNPC. Construction works of the Kazakh section started on 9 July 2008 and the first stage was finished in July 2009. It was built by Asian Gas Pipeline company, a joint venture of CNPC and KazMunayGas. The main contractors of this section were KazStroyService and China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation. The first of the two initial parallel line were completed early November 2009.