Sino-Myanmar pipelines

Last updated
Sino-Myanmar Crude Oil and Gas pipelines
Zhong Mian You Qi Guan Dao Gong Cheng Long Ling Fen Shu (Beng )Zhan 07.jpg
A sub-pumping station of Sino-Myanmar pipelines in Longling County, Yunnan Province
Location
Country Myanmar, China
Coordinates 19°21'52.39"N, 93°41'3.91"E
General directionsouth–north
From Kyaukphyu
Passes through Mandalay, Lashio, Namkham, Ruili
To Kunming
Runs alongsideSino–Myanmar natural gas pipeline
General information
TypeSeparate oil and Gas
Partners China National Petroleum Corporation
Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise
Technical information
Length771 km (479 mi)
Maximum discharge240 thousand barrels per day (38×10^3 m3/d)
Sino-Myanmar Crude oil and Natural Gas pipelines
Zhong Mian You Qi Guan Dao Gong Cheng Long Ling Fen Shu (Beng )Zhan 06.jpg
A sub-pumping station of Sino-Myanmar pipelines in Longling County, Yunnan Province
Location
Country Myanmar, China
General directionsouth–north
From Kyaukphyu
Passes through Mandalay, Lashio, Namkham, Ruili, Kunming
To Guizhou and Guangxi
Runs alongsideSino–Myanmar crude oil pipeline
General information
TypeCrude Oil and Natural Gas
Partners China National Petroleum Corporation
Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise
Technical information
Length2,806 km (1,744 mi)
Maximum discharge12 billion cubic meters per year

Sino-Myanmar pipelines refers to the oil and natural gas pipelines linking Myanmar's deep-water port of Kyaukphyu (Sittwe) in the Bay of Bengal with Kunming in Yunnan province of China.

Contents

History

Talks between China and Myanmar on the feasibility of the project began in 2004. In December 2005, PetroChina signed a deal with Myanmar's Government to purchase natural gas over a 30-year period. [1] Based on this agreement, the parent company of PetroChina, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), signed on 25 December 2008 a contract with the Daewoo International-led consortium to purchase natural gas from the Shwe gas field in A-1 offshore block. [2]

The plan to build the oil and gas pipelines was approved by China's National Development and Reform Commission in April 2007. [3] In November 2008, China and Myanmar agreed to build a US$1.5 billion oil pipeline and US$1.04 billion natural gas pipeline. In March 2009, China and Myanmar signed an agreement to build a natural gas pipeline, and in June 2009 an agreement to build a crude oil pipeline. [4] The inauguration ceremony marking the start of construction was held on 31 October 2009 on Maday Island. [5] [6]

The Myanmar section of the gas pipeline was completed on 12 June 2013 and gas started to flow to China on 21 October 2013. [7] [8] [9] The oil pipeline was completed in Aug, 2014. [10]

Route

The oil and natural gas pipelines run in parallel and start near Kyaukphyu on Made island port on the Bay of Bengal in Myanmar (19°21'52.39"N, 93°41'3.91"E), run under the sea for 5.3 kilometres (3.3 mi) to mainland ( 19°21'26.09"N, 93°44'3.41"E) and then run through Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin, and Namkham in Myanmar before entering China at the border city of Ruili in Yunnan province. [11] The oil pipeline, which eventually terminates in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, is 771 kilometres (479 mi) long. [6] The natural gas pipeline will extend further from Kunming to Guizhou and Guangxi in China, running a total of 2,806 kilometres (1,700 mi).[ citation needed ] The China-Myanmar crude oil pipeline project operation corresponds with China's "Belt and Road" Initiative, which will provide more direct way for China's imports of crude oil to bypass the crowded Malacca Strait. [12] China plans to construct additional pipelines in coming years. [13]

Description

The oil pipeline will have a capacity of 12 million tonnes of crude oil per year. [14] It would diversify China's crude oil imports routes from the Middle East and Africa, and avoid traffic through the Strait of Malacca. [15] Oil storage tanks will be built on an island near the port of Kyaukphyu. [16] For oil processing China will build refineries in Chongqing, Sichuan, and in Yunnan. [17]

The gas pipeline will allow delivery of natural gas from Burma's offshore fields to China with an expected annual capacity of up to 12 bcm of natural gas. [18] The pipeline will be supplied from the A-1 and A-3 Shwe oil field. [19] China would start receiving natural gas from Burma's Shwe project through the pipeline in April 2013. [20] The Shwe, Shwe-Phyu, and Mya areas in the A-1 and A-3 blocks, estimated to hold 127–218 bcm of natural gas in total, are operated by a group led by Daewoo International Corp. [20] The operators group also includes Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, GAIL, and Korea Gas Corporation.

The total project of pipelines is expected to cost US$2.5 billion. [16]

In July 2014 CNPC celebrated the first anniversary of the launch of the Myanmar-China natural gas pipeline by announcing that nearly two billion cubic metres of gas has been piped from Indian Ocean plays onto the Asian continent. [21]

A railway that will connect Muse and Lashio is part of the project. The railway will be 80 miles long and will include 41 bridges, 36 tunnels and 7 stations. [22]

Controversy

A number of protests in Burma and abroad took place against the construction of the pipeline. [23] The pipelines have sparked protests over environmental and safety concerns, and inadequate compensation arrangements for local residents. Critics have also said the contract, which was signed under the military regime, should be revisited and that Burma should not be exporting gas when three-quarters of the population lack electricity. [9]

Operating company

The project will be implemented jointly by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE). CNPC will hold a 50.9% stake and manage the project, and MOGE will own the rest. [16]

Further reading

Related Research Articles

PetroChina Chinese oil producer

PetroChina Company Limited is a Chinese oil and gas company and is the listed arm of state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), headquartered in Dongcheng District, Beijing. The company is currently Asia's largest oil and gas producer and was China's second biggest oil producer in 2006. Traded in Hong Kong and New York, the mainland enterprise announced its plans to issue stock in Shanghai in November 2007, and subsequently entered the constituent of SSE 50 Index. In the 2020 Forbes Global 2000, PetroChina was ranked as the 32nd-largest public company in the world.

Sinopec Chinese oil and gas enterprise

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (中国石油化工股份有限公司) or Sinopec, is a Chinese oil and gas enterprise based in Beijing. It is listed in Hong Kong and also trades in Shanghai and New York.

China National Petroleum Corporation Chinese major national oil and gas corporation

The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is a major national oil and gas corporation of China and one of the largest integrated energy groups in the world. Its headquarters are in Dongcheng District, Beijing. CNPC was ranked fourth in 2020 Fortune Global 500, a global ranking of the largest corporations by revenue.

Kyaukpyu is a major town in Rakhine State, in western Myanmar. It is located on the north western corner of Yanbye Island on Combermere Bay, and is 250 miles (400 km) north-west of Yangon. It is the principal town of Kyaukpyu Township and Kyaukpyu District. The town is situated on a superb natural harbor which connects the rice trade between Calcutta and Yangon. The estimated population in 1983 was 19,456 inhabitants. The population of Kyaukpyu Urban area is 20,866 as of 2014, while Kyaukpyu Township's population is 165,352.

Central Asia–China gas pipeline

The Central Asia–China gas pipeline is a natural gas pipeline system from Central Asia to Xinjiang in the People's Republic of China. By connecting Turkmenistan to China’s domestic grid, this pipeline makes it possible to transport gas some 7000 km from Turkmenistan to Shanghai. More than half of Turkmen natural gas exports are delivered to China through the pipeline.

The West–East Gas Pipeline is a set of natural gas pipelines which run from the western part of China to the east.

The Shaan–Jing pipeline is a natural gas pipeline in China, which runs from Jingbian County to Beijing and Tianjin.

The Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean oil pipeline is a pipeline system for exporting Russian crude oil to the Asia-Pacific markets. The pipeline is built and operated by Russian pipeline company Transneft.

The Altai gas pipeline is a proposed natural gas pipeline to export natural gas from Russia's Western Siberia to North-Western China.

The national holding company Uzbekneftegaz is a state-owned holding company of Uzbekistan's oil and gas industry.

Kyaukpyu Township Township in Rakhine State, Burma

Kyaukpyu Township is a township of Kyaukpyu District in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. The principal town is Kyaukpyu.

Muse, Myanmar Town in Shan State, Myanmar

Muse is the capital town of Mu Se Township in northern Shan State, Myanmar. It is situated on the Shweli River, and is connected by a bridge and road to Ruili in Yunnan Province, China.

The China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation is a construction engineering company that builds refineries, pipelines, and other oil and gas related infrastructure. It is a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation.

Bagtyýarlyk is a large contractual PSA territory consisting of several natural gas fields located in Lebap Province of Turkmenistan. It literally means happiness in Turkmen language. Bagtyyarlyk constitutes the bigger part of the gas rich Sagkenar area and includes Saman- Depe and Altyn Asyr fields.

Petroleum industry in Iran Overview of the petroleum industry of Iran

Iran is an energy superpower and the petroleum industry in Iran plays an important part in it. In 2004, Iran produced 5.1 percent of the world's total crude oil, which generated revenues of US$25 billion to US$30 billion and was the country's primary source of foreign currency. At 2006 levels of production, oil proceeds represented about 18.7% of gross domestic product (GDP). However, the importance of the hydrocarbon sector to Iran's economy has been far greater. The oil and gas industry has been the engine of economic growth, directly affecting public development projects, the government's annual budget, and most foreign exchange sources.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation Chinese national oil company

China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC Group, is one of the largest national oil companies in China, and the third-largest national oil company in China, after CNPC and China Petrochemical Corporation. The CNOOC Group focuses on the exploitation, exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas in offshore China, along with its subsidiary COOEC.

China–Russia relations Bilateral relations

China–Russia relations, also known as Sino-Russian relations, refers to international relations between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation. Diplomatic relations between China and Russia improved after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and establishment of the Russian Federation in 1991. American scholar Joseph Nye states:

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, that de facto US-China alliance ended, and a China–Russia rapprochement began. In 1992, the two countries declared that they were pursuing a "constructive partnership"; in 1996, they progressed toward a "strategic partnership"; and in 2001, they signed a treaty of "friendship and cooperation."

Oil and gas industry in Myanmar

Myanmar, is a developing country and an important natural gas and petroleum producer in Asia. It is home to one of the world's oldest petroleum industries, with its first crude oil exports dating back to 1853. Today, the country is one of the major natural gas producers in the Asian continent. Decades of isolation, sanctions, a lack of technical capacity, opaque government policies and insufficient investment has impeded the country's efforts to develop an upstream hydrocarbon sector. Recent but slow political reform has led the international community to ease sanctions on Burma, giving rise to hopes of greater investment and economic growth. In 2015-2016, the petroleum industry attracted the highest-ever amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the history of Myanmar.

Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone is a 1,600 hectares Burmese special economic zone being developed on Kyaukphyu, Ramree Island, Rakhine State. Kyaukphyu SEZ was first announced in September 2013. The project initially began as a joint venture between the Chinese and Burmese governments, but has since transitioned to private developers. Kyaukphyu SEZ will be accessible to the Shwe gas field in the Bay of Bengal. The oil and gas terminal was financed by the China National Petroleum Corporation which built two pipelines for natural gas and oil.

The China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPP) is a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation and the primary builder of pipelines in China. The company has built much of the cross-country pipeline infrastructure in China and had several large-scale projects abroad.

References

  1. Storey, Ian (2006-04-12). "China's "Malacca Dilemma"". China Brief. Jamestown Foundation. 6 (8). Retrieved 2008-11-21.
  2. "Daewoo seals Myanmar-China gas export deal - Xinhua". Reuters. 2008-12-25. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  3. "China, Burma Still Discussing Proposed Pipeline". Downstream Today. 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  4. "Sino-Myanmar Crude Pipeline Memo Signed". Downstream Today. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  5. "China starts building Burma pipeline". Upstream Online . NHST Media Group. 2009-11-03. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  6. 1 2 "China starts building Myanmar pipeline". Xinhua . Downstream Today. 2009-11-03. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  7. "Burma Gas Pipeline Complete but Cites China Delays". the irrawaddy. 2013-06-12. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  8. "BChina-Myanmar Gas Pipeline: Myanmar Once Again Getting A Bad Bargain In Chinese Investment". international business times. 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  9. 1 2 Shin, Aung (27 October 2013). "Controversial pipeline now fully operational". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  10. "China-Myanmar joint pipeline starts delivering gas". CCTV.com. 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
  11. Watkins, Eric (2008-11-20). "Myanmar awards China pipeline rights". Oil & Gas Journal (requires subscription). Retrieved 2008-12-05.
  12. "China-Myanmar Oil Pipeline Officially Inaugurated, Pumping First Oil | Yicai Global". www.yicaiglobal.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-04.
  13. "China plans to expand oil, gas pipeline networks - Xinhua | English.news.cn".
  14. Boot, William (2009-11-06). "Weekly Business Roundup (November 7, 2009). China Confirms its Plan to use Burma as a Mideast Oil Conduit". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  15. Jenkins, Graeme (2008-01-16). "Burmese junta profits from Chinese pipeline". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  16. 1 2 3 "China, Myanmar to Build $2.5 Billion Pipelines, Nikkei Says". Bloomberg. 2008-11-17. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  17. "China To Build Refineries for Oil from Burma Pipeline". Downstream Today. 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  18. "Construction of Sino-Myanmar O&G Pipelines to Begin in Sept". Downstream Today. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2009-07-18.
  19. "India and China Compete for Burma's Resources". World Politics Review. 2006-08-21. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
  20. 1 2 "China May Start Receiving Myanmar Gas Through Pipeline in 2013". Bloomberg. 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  21. "Myanmar-China pipeline ships 1.87bn cubic metres of gas | Oil and Gas Technology".
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2014-01-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. Kyaw Min (28 October 2013). "China-Myanmar Gas Pipeline Becomes Fully Operational". Myanmar Business Today. Retrieved 31 October 2013.