In a landmark achievement for China's energy infrastructure, the China-Russia East Route Gas Pipeline (CREFP), the nation's largest single-pipeline gas conduit, has reached full operational capacity. As of December 2nd, the pipeline has been fully connected, doubling its annual gas transmission capacity to an impressive 38 billion cubic meters, setting a new benchmark for energy supply.
From XINHUA
In a landmark achievement for China's energy infrastructure, the China-Russia East Route Gas Pipeline (CREFP), the nation's largest single-pipeline gas conduit, has reached full operational capacity. As of December 2nd, the pipeline has been fully connected, doubling its annual gas transmission capacity to an impressive 38 billion cubic meters, setting a new benchmark for energy supply.
This milestone marks the seamless flow of clean energy from Siberia, starting in Heihe, Heilongjiang, and extending southward to the eastern regions of China, with the final destination being Shanghai. The CREFP is the third cross-border natural gas artery supplying China, following the Central Asia and Myanmar pipelines, and it is a crucial component of the Northeast passage in the country's four major energy strategic corridors.
Spanning a vast distance of 5,111 kilometers and traversing nine provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, the CREFP is divided into three sections for regulatory approval and construction: the northern section from Heihe to Jilin Changling, the middle section from Jilin Changling to Hebei Yongqing, and the southern section from Hebei Yongqing to Shanghai. Since the northern section's inauguration on December 2nd, 2019, the pipeline has seen a gradual increase in gas transmission, from 5 billion cubic meters in its inaugural year to over 30 billion cubic meters by 2024.
The recent commissioning of the Nantong-Luzhi section, the final piece of the southern segment of the CREFP, signifies the pipeline's complete integration, facilitating the direct supply of "northern gas to the south," all the way to Shanghai. By integrating with the West-East Gas Pipeline network, the CREFP extends its reach to Zhejiang and Anhui, further enhancing the gas supply in these regions. With full operation, the CREFP is now capable of operating at full capacity, and through interconnections with the Northeast gas grid, the Shaanxi-Beijing pipeline system, the West-East Gas Pipeline system, and multiple coastal LNG receiving stations, it significantly bolsters the natural gas supply and emergency peak-shaving capabilities in China's eastern regions.
Looking ahead to 2025, it is anticipated that the CREFP will increase the natural gas supply to the Yangtze River Delta by nearly 5 billion cubic meters, accounting for approximately one-fifth of the current gas supply to the area by the National Pipeline Group. This increase is set to substantially elevate the region's natural gas supply and peak-shaving emergency response capabilities.
Beyond its immediate impact on energy supply, the CREFP is a significant contributor to China's efforts to optimize its energy consumption structure, promote a green shift in development, and achieve the "dual carbon" goals. It is estimated that the annual supply of natural gas along the CREFP will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 164 million tons and sulfur dioxide emissions by 1.82 million tons.
As a hallmark of China's third generation of large-scale natural gas pipelines, the CREFP is the country's first to employ a 1422mm large diameter, X80 high-steel grade, and 12MPa high-pressure level, setting a new standard in the global natural gas pipeline industry. The project showcases advanced technologies in design, construction, and operational management, making it a model for China's first intelligent pipeline. Moreover, the CREFP stands as the first pipeline in China's oil and gas transportation history to fully realize the localization of key equipment and core control systems. With 36 high-power compressor units along the route utilizing domestic equipment, the pipeline has achieved a 100% localization rate for critical components such as centrifugal compressors, high-speed synchronous motors, and frequency converters.