CRI听力:China's Second East-west Natural Gas Pipeline Operated

China's second east-west natural gas pipeline has come into operation. The pipeline, connecting central Asia and China, will transport natural gas from Turkmenistan to South China's Pearl River Delta, after passing through 15 of the country's provinces. The pipeline will increase the natural gas supply for China and trigger the development of relevant industries. Wei Tong takes a closer look.

The gas pipeline is the world's longest, with a total length of 8,700 kilometers. The pipeline starts to transport natural gas from Horgos Port, which borders Kazakhstan, to southern China's Hong Kong. The sources of gas are mainly from Turkmenistan and partly from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) deputy manager Liao Yongyuan says the second pipeline will increase China's natural gas supply and be conducive to energy-saving and environmental protection.

"The natural gas transported from Central Asia to China has reached 55 to 60 billion cubic meters each year. With the second pipeline, China's natural gas supply will see an increase of 30 billion cubic meters every year. What's more, if the petrol-driven automobiles can consume natural gas, the greenhouse gas emissions will be largely cut down. It can save a large amount of petrol and curb the air pollution."

The second east-west natural gas pipeline was built with an investment of nearly 22 billion US dollars. Zhao Yujian, director of China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau says, some relevant industries can be boosted, thanks to the new pipeline.

"The construction of the pipeline has triggered the development of China's equipment manufacturing, mechanical engineering and the production of building materials. We can produce high-grade pipes. And our manufacturing techniques have also been advanced."

The 8,700-kilometer long pipeline, together with the other three oil pipelines which link China and Russia, China and Myanmar as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine transportation, has formed China's oil and gas imports network.

CNPC's manager Liao Yongyuan has announced that the third pipeline transmitting natural gas from Central Asia to China will be constructed to meet more demands of China's natural gas consumption.

For CRI, this is Wei Tong.