Construction of Guangdong’s main natural gas pipeline network has commenced in full scale

The construction of Guangdong’s main natural gas pipeline network has commenced today on a full scale. Nine gas supply sources will ensure a steady supply of gas, and the first phase of this pipeline network project, which is listed as one of the province’s key projects for 2009, started simultaneously in six cities across the province. This marks the entry into a substantive and comprehensive phase of development for Guangdong’s natural gas network that covers the entire province. This move marks a crucial step toward energy security in Guangdong and the development of a low-carbon Guangdong. 　　Guangdong Provincial Gas Pipeline Network Company stated that it will strive to complete the main construction of the first phase of the pipeline network by the end of this year, with the main pipelines essentially connected by July next year, thereby meeting the conditions for gas supply. 　　Accelerated progress on the main pipeline network 　　Since the commencement of the Huizhou section of the provincial natural gas pipeline network project in April, the initiative to create a single pipeline network across Guangdong province has seen accelerated progress over the past year. In November, the province’s ** officially issued and implemented the \"Guangdong Province Oil and Gas Main Pipeline Network Plan (2009–2020)\」 ； On December 30, the first phase of the provincial pipeline network project was fully approved by the provincial ** authorities. 　　On the 25th of last month, 23 winning supervision, construction companies, and steel pipe suppliers from within the country gathered at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center together with the Provincial Natural Gas Pipeline Company to hold the signing ceremony for the relevant contracts. Liu Guojiang, the engineering director of the Provincial Natural Gas Pipeline Network Company, revealed that all tasks related to the design, construction, supervision, and procurement of steel pipes for the first phase of the project have been completed, and all conditions are now in place for commencement of work. 　　It has a receiving capacity of 16 billion cubic meters. Reporters learned from relevant sources that, as a key component of Guangdong’s integrated natural gas network across the province, the first phase of this provincial pipeline system serves as a hub for managing natural gas resources that will enter the province in the future. It also prepares the infrastructure to receive the Central Asian natural gas delivered via the Second West-East Gas Pipeline in 2011. 　　In accordance with the \"Guangdong Province Oil and Gas Main Pipeline Network Plan\" issued and implemented by the province last November, the construction of a unified natural gas network across the province will take place in five phases. The first phase will primarily handle the natural gas supplied via the West-East Gas Transmission Line 2 and the Sichuan-Guangdong gas pipeline into Guangdong Province, delivering natural gas to seven cities and prefectures namely Guangzhou, Foshan, Shaoguan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhaoqing, and Qingyuan. Once completed in 2011, this system will have the capacity to receive 16 billion cubic meters of natural gas. 　　“The first phase of the pipeline has a total length of 467 kilometers, comprising ‘three main lines and three branch lines’: the three main lines are the Aotou–Guangzhou line, the Guangzhou–Huizhou line, and the Guangzhou–Zhaoqing line ； The three branch lines are the Dongguan branch line, the Shaoguan branch line, and the Qingyuan branch line. ”A responsible official from the provincial pipeline network said. 　　Nine major gas sources ensure gas supply in Guangdong. In the winter of 2009, the sudden drop in temperatures caused residents in many cities across the country to worry about the fragile supply of natural gas. Will there be sufficient gas supply to support the establishment of a unified gas network across Guangdong? The Provincial Gas Pipeline Company states that Guangdong is working to secure multiple sources of gas in order to ensure the safe gas supply for residents in the province in the future. 　　According to the relevant plans, the \"one-network across the province\" system will be supported by nine gas sources: once Line 2 of the West-East Gas Pipeline is operational, it will be able to supply 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Guangdong ； The plan to transport Sichuan gas to Guangdong, which has been signed by Guangdong and Sinopec among others ； The already completed Shenzhen Dapeng Bay LNG plant, as well as the existing or under-construction LNG plants in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Eastern Guangdong, and Western Guangdong for the import of natural gas ； Marine natural gas in the South China Sea, such as that in Panyu/Huizhou and Liwan. 　　Officials from the provincial natural gas pipeline company said that in parallel with the project construction, the first phase of this pipeline network has already signed memorandums of intent for gas supply with seven cities, including Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Qingyuan, Zhaoqing, and Shaoguan. The \"mechanisms related to natural gas sales and pricing\", which are of interest to many, have also become key topics of research at present. 　　It is foreseeable that a unified network across the province and multiple gas supply sources will play an important role in ensuring energy security, optimizing the energy structure, and improving environmental quality. With the large-scale introduction of natural gas, the lives of countless households will also change as a result.