Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline

Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline
GIS Route of Kazakhstan - China Oil Pipeline
Location
Country	Kazakhstan, China
General direction	west–east
From	Atyrau
Passes through	Aktobe, Kenkiyak, Kumkol, Atasu
To	Alashankou
General information
Type	oil
Partners	China National Petroleum Corporation, KazMunayGas
Technical information
Length	2,228 km (1,384 mi)
Maximum discharge	20 million tonnes per year

The Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline is China's first direct oil import pipeline allowing oil import from Central Asia. It runs from Kazakhstan's Caspian shore to Xinjiang in China. The pipeline is owned by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the Kazakh oil company KazMunayGas.

The construction of pipeline was agreed between China and Kazakhstan in 1997. The first section of pipeline from the Aktobe region's oil fields to the Atyrau was completed in 2003. The construction of pipeline from Atasu, Kazakhstan () to Alashankou started in September 2004 and was completed in December 2005. The construction of Kenkiyak–Kumkol section was agreed between Kazakhstan and China on 18 August 2007. This section was completed on 11 July 2009.

The pipeline was developed by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the Kazakh oil company KazMunayGas.

Currently capacity is at 14 million tons per year. The pipeline is expected to reach nominal capacity of 20 million tons per year in 2014.

The 2,228 kilometres (1,384 mi) long pipeline runs from Atyrau in Kazakhstan to Alashankou in China's Xinjiang. The Kenkiyak-Atyrau section of the pipeline is 449 kilometres (279 mi) long and has a capacity of 120 thousand barrels per day (~6.0×10^⁶ t/a). Capacity of the pipeline maybe upgraded to 180 thousand barrels per day (~9.0×10^⁶ t/a) in the future. The pipeline was built and is operated by MunaiTas a joint venture between CNPC and KazMunayGas.

The Atasu-Alashankou section of the pipeline cost US$700 million. It is 987 kilometres (613 mi) long and has a capacity of 200 thousand barrels per day (~1.0×10^⁷ t/a). Capacity of this section might be upgraded to 400 thousand barrels per day (~2.0×10^⁷ t/a) by 2011. The pipeline includes an oil metering station at the Alataw Pass. The pipeline was built and is operated by a joint venture between CNODC and KazTrans Oil JSC. The first oil through this pipeline reached the refinery in August 2006.