West-East gas pipeline extension

The acute energy shortages in north China will be eased with the extension of the giant West-East Gas Pipeline project, state media reported, citing PetroChina, the biggest oil and gas producer. PetroChina said it would invest 7.7bn RMB (US$931m) on improving the line's capacity within the year, benefiting the northern Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The additional investment will finance linking the main line with a second Shaanxi-Beijing pipeline, building a gas storage tank in Jiangsu province and six gas pumping stations at the western end. When it is completed by the end of the year, two years earlier than planned, the 4,200km pipeline will supply 12bn cubic meters of natural gas a year.