Central Asia–China gas pipeline

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 leader 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

| newspaper=China Daily

| date=2004-08-25

| accessdate=2007-07-27}}

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, Chinese leader Hu Jintao and Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov 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

| work= Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

| date=2006-04-10

| accessdate=2007-07-27}}

In June 2007, during his visit to China, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow signed an accord to speed up implementation of the Turkmen-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.

{{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 formally announced that Turkmenistan will join original Kazakhstan-China pipeline project.

{{cite news

| url=https://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2007/07/04/afx3883648.html

| title=Turkmenistan to join China, Kazakhstan pipeline project – KazMunaiGas EP CEO

| newspaper=Forbes

| agency=AFX News

| date=2007-07-04

| accessdate=2007-07-27}}{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

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

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121184305/https://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL0888292120071108

| url-status=dead

| archive-date=21 November 2020

| title=Kazakhstan, China agree to press ahead with pipeline

| author=Maria Golovnina

| work=Reuters

| date=2007-11-08

| accessdate=2008-03-15}}

On 30 August 2007, the construction of the {{convert|188|km|mi}} long Turkmen section of the pipeline began. This section was built by Stroytransgaz, a subsidiary of Gazprom.

{{cite news

| url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL194546920080219

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121071122/https://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL194546920080219

| url-status=dead

| archive-date=21 November 2020

| title=Russian company wins Turkmen China pipeline tender

| author=Marat Gurt

| work=Reuters

| date=2008-02-19

| accessdate=2008-03-15}}

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.{{cite news

|url = http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/news/articles/eav071009a.shtml

|title = Kazakhstan: Workers Complete Section of Turkmenistan-China Pipeline

|publisher = Eurasianet

|date = 2009-07-10

|accessdate = 2009-07-16

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090715061504/http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/news/articles/eav071009a.shtml

|archive-date = 15 July 2009

|url-status = dead

|df = dmy-all

}}

{{cite news

| url= http://www.downstreamtoday.com/news/article.aspx?a_id=11700

| title=Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline To Start Service Next Year

| publisher= Downstream Today

| work = Asiaport Daily News

| date=2008-07-03

| accessdate=2008-07-07}}

It was built by Asia Trans Gas, a joint venture of Uzbekneftegas and CNPC.

{{cite news

| url=http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/centralasiachinagasp/

| title=Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline, Turkmenistan to China

| newspaper = hydrocarbons-technology.com

| date=2013-09-25

| accessdate=2013-09-25}}

Construction works of the Kazakh section started on 9 July 2008 and the first stage was finished in July 2009.

{{cite news

| url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article158831.ece

| title=Kazakhstan gets cracking on China pipe

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| date=2008-07-09

| accessdate=2008-07-09

| url-access=subscription

}}

It was built by Asian Gas Pipeline company, a joint venture of CNPC and KazMunayGas.

{{cite news

| url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article152009.ece

| title=Beijing digs in with Kazakh pipes

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| date=2008-04-09

| accessdate=2008-04-19

| url-access=subscription

}}

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.

{{cite news

| url= http://downstreamtoday.com/news/article.aspx?a_id=19253

| title= CNPC To Build Phase II Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline

| publisher= Downstream Today

| agency = Xinhua

| date= 2009-11-12

| accessdate= 2009-11-14}}

The Kazakh section of the pipeline was inaugurated on 12 December 2009 during Chinese leader Hu Jintao's visit to Kazakhstan.

{{cite news

| url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKGEE5BB01D20091212?sp=true

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201121052555/https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKGEE5BB01D20091212?sp=true

| url-status= dead

| archive-date= 21 November 2020

| title=China's Hu boosts energy ties with Central Asia

| first1=Raushan | last1=Nurshayeva

| first2=Shamil | last2=Zhumatov

| work=Reuters

| date=2009-12-12

| accessdate=2009-12-12}}

The whole pipeline was inaugurated on 14 December 2009 in a ceremony in Saman-Depe during Hu Jintao's visit to Turkmenistan with the leaders of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

{{cite news

| url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKSGE5BD0BQ20091214?sp=true

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100608045946/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKSGE5BD0BQ20091214?sp=true

| url-status= dead

| archive-date= 8 June 2010

| title= China extends influence into C.Asia with pipeline

| first = Marat | last = Gurt

| work=Reuters

| date=2009-12-14

| accessdate=2009-12-14}}

On 13 June 2010 China and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on a branch line from Western Kazakhstan.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-06/14/content_9976764.htm

| title= China, Kazakhstan sign new gas pipeline deal

| author = Wan Zhihong

| newspaper= China Daily

| date=2010-06-14

| accessdate=2010-06-20}}

The second line was completed by the end of 2010. Construction of the third line began in 2012.

{{cite news

|url=http://pipelinesinternational.com/news/construction_on_third_line_begins_for_central_asia-china_gas_pipeline/066998/

|title=Construction on third line begins for Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline

|publisher=Pipelines International

|date=March 2012

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112042852/http://pipelinesinternational.com/news/construction_on_third_line_begins_for_central_asia-china_gas_pipeline/066998

|archivedate=12 November 2014

|df=dmy

}}

The construction of a fourth line of the pipeline, "Line D", was to have been launched at the end of 2014.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.brecorder.com/markets/energy/asia/179025.html

| title= China, Central Asian countries open 3rd gas line

| publisher= Business Recorder

| date= 16 June 2014

| accessdate= 2014-06-20}}

However, the fourth line has been dogged by delays. As of August 2021, one tunnel in Tajikistan had been completed. No date has been set for final completion.{{Cite web|url=https://thepeoplesmap.net/project/central-asia-china-gas-pipeline-line-d/|title = Central Asia–China Gas Pipeline (Line D)}} In May 2023, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping urged Central Asia's leaders "to accelerate laying Line D", and an unnamed Chinese official reportedly said separately, "Central Asian pipelines are considered a cornerstone investment in China's energy and geopolitical space. It's a supply channel with strategic value that supersedes commercial concerns."{{citation

|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/china-prioritising-turkmenistan-over-russia-next-big-pipeline-project-2023-05-24/

|title=China prioritising Turkmenistan over Russia in next big pipeline project

|first1= Chen |last1= Aizhu

|first2 = Marat |last2=Gurt

|date = 24 May 2023

|publisher=Reuters

| accessdate=2023-05-24}} S&P Global reported in December 2023, "PetroChina expects to resume the construction of Line D of the Central Asia – China Gas Pipeline (CAGP) in 2024..." and "...the contract was still under final negotiations. The main disagreement remaining was over prices and the delay in finalizing the upstream gas supply contract was the main reason for the suspension of Line D's construction..."{{citation

|title=PetroChina looking to resume Central Asia Gas Pipeline Line D construction in 2024

|date=21 December 2023

|url=https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/lng/122123-petrochina-looking-to-resume-central-asia-gas-pipeline-line-d-construction-in-2024-source

|publisher=S&P Global}}

According to CNPC, the inflow of Turkmen gas helps China in meeting its energy demands and stabilizes the country's overall consumption structure. It was expected that the pipeline's deliveries boost the natural gas proportion of energy consumption of China by an estimated 2%, which reduces the overall smoke, dust and carbon dioxide emissions.

{{cite news

|url = http://www.chinastakes.com/story.aspx?id=480

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20120723171656/http://www.chinastakes.com/story.aspx?id=480

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 2012-07-23

|title = Central Asia Pipeline to Secure natural Gas for China

|publisher = ChinaStakes

|date = 2008-07-02

|accessdate = 2009-02-24

}}

For Turkmenistan, the project helps the country diversify its energy exports by delivering gas eastward as opposed to its previous deliveries to Russia and Iran. Until the inauguration of the pipeline, nearly 70% of Turkmenistan's gas exports transited through Russian pipelines.

{{cite news

| author = Philip H. de Leon

| url=http://www.resourceinvestor.com/News/2009/12/Pages/China-secures-gas-from-Turkmenistan-Whos-the-real-winner.aspx

| title=China secures gas from Turkmenistan: Who's the real winner?

| publisher=Resource Investor

| date=2009-12-22

| accessdate=2009-12-23}}

Central Asia–China gas pipeline is the first pipeline to bring Central Asian natural gas to China and highlights China's quest for Central Asian energy exports. While Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are also considering selling their gas to China, Chinese government already made new moves to penetrate deeper into Central Asian energy sector by lending $3 billion to Turkmenistan to develop the South Iolotan field in 2009 and $10 billion to Kazakhstan to pay for future oil supplies.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/38fc5d14-e8d1-11de-a756-00144feab49a.html

| title= Pipeline brings Asian gas to China

| newspaper=Financial Times

|last1= Gorst|first1=Isabel

|last2= Dyer|first2=Geoff

| date=2009-12-14

| accessdate=2009-12-14}}

The length of Lines A, B, and C is about {{convert|1833|km|mi}}, of which {{convert|188|km|mi}} in Turkmenistan and {{convert|530|km|mi}} in Uzbekistan.

{{cite news

| url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article139613.ece

| title=Turkmen break ground on China pipe

| newspaper = Upstream Online

| publisher = NHST Media Group

| date=2007-08-30

| accessdate=2007-09-09

| url-access=subscription

}}

The diameter of each pipeline is {{convert|1067|mm|in}}.

{{cite news

| url= http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/14/MTAyMDg5/Construction_cost_of_Kazakhstan_to_China_gas_pipeline_increases.html

| title= Construction cost of Kazakhstan to China gas pipeline increases

| publisher= Steel Guru

| date= 2009-07-13

| accessdate= 2009-07-16

| url-status= dead

| archiveurl= https://archive.today/20130104205450/http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/07/14/MTAyMDg5/Construction_cost_of_Kazakhstan_to_China_gas_pipeline_increases.html

| archivedate= 4 January 2013

| df= dmy-all

}}

Lines A, B, and C constitute three parallel lines with combined total capacity of {{convert|55|e9m3/a}} which was reached by 2015. Construction of the first line 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

| newspaper=The China Post

| date=2007-12-30

| accessdate=2008-06-01}}

The pipeline project also includes the desulfurization plant at Samand-Depe to remove high sulfur content of natural gas.

In 2023, the Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Turkmenistan's quota on this pipeline system was 40 bcma.{{citation |url=https://mfa.gov.tm/en/news/3990 |title=STATEMENT FOR MEDIA | date=12 August 2023 |publisher=Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}

A fourth pipeline (Line D), {{convert|966|km|mi}} in length to connect Galkynysh to western China via Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, is under construction. It was originally expected to be completed in 2020 but presently no completion date has been set. Upon its completion, total capacity of the four lines is expected to reach 85 billion cubic metres per annum (bcma).{{cite web|url=https://orient.tm/zavershaetsya-stroitelstvo-dopolnitelnoj-vetki-gazoprovoda-ca-kitaj/|title=Завершается строительство дополнительной ветки газопровода «ЦА-Китай»|date=30 Jan 2020|publisher=ORIENT-ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ АГЕНТСТВО "МЕДИА-ТУРКМЕН"|language=Russian}}{{cite web|url=https://thepeoplesmap.net/project/central-asia-china-gas-pipeline-line-d/ |title=Central Asia–China Gas Pipeline (Line D) |first=Farkhod |last=Aminjonov |publisher=People’s Map of Global China |access-date=13 January 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cnpc.com.cn/en/FlowofnaturalgasfromCentralAsia/FlowofnaturalgasfromCentralAsia2.shtml |title=Flow of natural gas from Central Asia |publisher=CNPC |access-date=13 January 2023 }}

The pipeline starts in Saman-Depe carrying natural gas from the Bagtyyarlyk gas fields on the right bank of Amu Darya in Turkmenistan. It is mainly supplied from Iolotan and Sag Kenar fields.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/185436436.html

| title= Turkmenistan's Producers – The Gas Sector

| publisher= APS Review Gas Market Trends

| date=2008-09-22

| accessdate=2009-11-29}}

The pipeline enters Uzbekistan in Olot and runs across Uzbekistan to southern Kazakhstan parallel to the existing Bukhara–Tashkent–Bishkek–Almaty pipeline.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.downstreamtoday.com/news/article.aspx?a_id=5015

| title= Analysis: Turkmen Gas Deal Extends Chinese Influence

| work = BBC Monitoring Central Asia

| publisher= Downstream Today

| date=2007-07-26

| accessdate=2007-07-27}}

{{cite conference

|first=Mehmet

|last=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

|conference=Windsor Energy Group's Regional Pipelines Roundtable

|location=Almaty

|publisher=The Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee

|date=2006-10-02

|accessdate=2007-07-27

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929134259/http://www.dundee.ac.uk/cepmlp/journal/html/Vol17/Vol17_8.pdf

|archivedate=29 September 2007

|df=dmy

}}

The pipeline crosses the Kazakhstan–China border at Khorgos, where it is connected to the second West–East Gas Pipeline.{{cite news

| url=http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6456732.html

| title=2nd West-East gas pipeline project in construction

| newspaper=People's Daily

| date=2008-07-23

| accessdate=2010-07-28}}

{{cite news

| publisher=The Jamestown Foundation

| work= Eurasia Daily Monitor

| url= http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=33265

| title= China secures new access to Kazakh oil

| first = Farkhad | last = Sharip

| date=2007-12-21

| accessdate=2010-07-28}}

In Shymkent, the pipeline will be linked with the {{convert|1400|km|adj=on}} branch line from Beyneu in western Kazakhstan.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/display/3327163457/articles/oil-gas-journal/transportation-2/pipelines/construction/2010/06/china_-kazakhstan.html

| title= China, Kazakhstan sign accords for gas, uranium

| first = Eric | last = Watkins

| work = Oil % Gas Journal

| publisher= PennWell Corporation

| date=2010-06-18

| accessdate=2010-06-20}}

It will supply natural gas from the Karachaganak, Tengiz and Kashagan gas fields.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.downstreamtoday.com/news/article.aspx?a_id=23027

| title= CNPC, JV Partner to Build 2nd Phase of China-Kazakh Pipeline

| publisher= Downstream Today

| work = Asia Pulse

| date=2010-06-17

| accessdate=2010-06-20}}

The branch line will have a capacity of 15 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.

{{cite news

| url= http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/293349

| title= China, Kazakhstan agree deals on gas, nuclear energy

| first = Paris | last = Franz

| work = DigitalJournal.com

| date=2010-06-13

| accessdate=2010-06-20}}

It was commissioned in 2014.

{{Portal|China|Turkmenistan|Energy}}

• China-Turkmenistan relations
• Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline
• Central Asia – Center gas pipeline system
• Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline
• Energy policy of China
• Energy security of China
• Altai gas pipeline
• Power of Siberia

{{Reflist|33em}}

• Chow, Edward, "Central Asia’s Pipelines: Field of Dreams and Reality," in [http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=456 Pipeline Politics in Asia: The Intersection of Demand, Energy Markets, and Supply Routes] (National Bureau of Asian Research, 2010)
• [http://www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/NG25-KazakhstansgasExportMarketsandExportRoutes-ShamilYenikeyeff-2008.pdf Kazakhstan's Gas: Export Markets and Export Routes, by Shamil Yenikeyeff], Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, November 2008
• [http://tjogel.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Yodogawa-Peterson.pdf Noriko Yodogawa & Alexander M. Peterson, "An Opportunity for Progress: China, Central Asia, and the Energy Charter Treaty", 8 Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, and Energy Law 111 (2013).]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Central Asia-China gas pipeline}}

Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 2009

Category:Natural gas pipelines in Kazakhstan

Category:Natural gas pipelines in Turkmenistan

Category:Natural gas pipelines in Uzbekistan

Category:Natural gas pipelines in China

Category:Energy in Central Asia

Category:China–Kazakhstan relations

Category:Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan relations

Category:Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan relations

Category:Turkmenistan–Uzbekistan relations