Chinese Oil, Gas Pipeline Network to Expand to 240,000 km by 2025

China’s oil and gas pipeline network will reach 240,000 kilometres by 2025, according to a report by the country’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released July 12.

According to NDRC by 2020, the oil and gas pipeline network is likely to be 169,000 km, with those for crude, refined oil and natural gas at 32,000 km, 33,000 km and 104,000 km, respectively.

At the end of 2015, the length of pipelines for crude, refined oil and natural gas was 27,000 km, 21,000 km and 64,000 km, respectively, the NDRC informed.

NDRC’s deputy director of the ministry of industry Zheng Jian said that China needed a planned expansion in the oil and gas pipeline network to ensure a stable supply of energy, to reduce economic operating costs and improve people's quality of life.

He said that at present, China's dependence on foreign oil is more than 64% and natural gas at 33.4%. It is predicted that by 2025, China's natural gas consumption and the number of users will double, and the current infrastructure will not be able to handle the expected increase in demand.

Shardul Sharma