Central Asia-China natural gas pipeline has transported 270 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China since it was put into operation some 10 years ago, China Daily reports citing to the information provided by CNPC, also known as Petro-China.
The pipeline runs through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China. The current capacity for annual natural gas transmission from Central Asia to China is up to 55 billion cubic meters and represents more than 15 percent of yearly gas consumption in China.
Bloomberg Intelligence data show China’s dependence on imports to meet domestic gas demand is expected to rise to 75 percent in 2020 from 57 percent in 2017. The pipeline gas imports from Central Asia and Russia into China are expected to reach 85 billion cubic meters by 2020.
Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline is Central Asia’s key gas export route. It currently consists of three lines (A, B and C) that deliver gas from the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border to China, via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The total length of the pipeline, linking Turkmenistan to 15 provinces in China, is more than 9,000 kilometers and is one of the largest pipeline projects in the world.
After the construction of the proposed Line D, which will pass through Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the volume of gas supplies from Turkmenistan to China is expected to reach 65 billion cubic meters per year.
Turkmenistan is one of the largest gas resource holders in the Caspian region and has the world's fourth largest proven natural gas reserves.
