Energy

China-Russia oil pipeline officially starts operations

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-01 17:13

MOHE - An oil pipeline linking Russia's far east and Northeast China started operating Saturday.

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At 11:50 am, Yao Wei, general manager of Pipeline Branch of Petro China Co Ltd (PBPC), pushed a button in the China-Russia border county of Mohe in Heilongjiang province, marking the official start of operations after a two-month trial.

PBPC is the operator of the Chinese section of the pipeline.

"The operation of the China-Russia crude oil pipeline is the start of a new phase in China-Russia energy cooperation," Yao said.

He said the pipeline will improve the nation's energy-imports structure and promote economic development.

The 1,000-km-long pipeline will transport 15 million tons of crude oil annually from Russia to China from 2011 to 2030.