View source for Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline

{{Infobox pipeline
| name        = Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline
| type        = oil
| map         =
| map_caption = GIS Route of Kazakhstan - China Oil Pipeline
| country     = [[Kazakhstan]], [[China]]
| coordinates = 
| photo       = 
| caption     =
| operator    = 
| partners    = [[China National Petroleum Corporation]], [[KazMunayGas]]
| length_km   = 2228
| discharge   = 20&nbsp;million tonnes per year
| direction   = west–east
| start       = [[Atyrau]]
| finish      = [[Alashankou]]
| est         = 
| through     = [[Aktobe]], Kenkiyak, Kumkol, Atasu
| par         = 
}}

The '''Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline''' is [[China]]'s  first direct oil import pipeline allowing oil import from Central Asia. It runs from [[Kazakhstan]]'s Caspian shore to [[Xinjiang]] in China. The pipeline is owned by the [[China National Petroleum Corporation]] (CNPC) and the Kazakh oil company [[KazMunayGas]].

==History==
The construction of pipeline was agreed between China and Kazakhstan in 1997.<ref name=xinhua1/>  The first section of pipeline from the [[Aktobe]] region's oil fields to the [[Atyrau]] was completed in 2003. The construction of pipeline from {{Interlanguage link multi|Atasu, Kazakhstan|2=kk|3=Атасу кенті|preserve=1}} to Alashankou started in September 2004 and was completed in December 2005.<ref name=peoplesdaily2>
{{cite news
 |url= http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/25/eng20050325_178162.html
 |title=China starts work on Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline
 |publisher=People's Daily Online
 |date=2005-03-25
 |accessdate=2008-03-15
}}</ref><ref name=peoplesdaily>
{{cite news
 |url= http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200602/27/eng20060227_246399.html
 |title=Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline to open in May
 |publisher=People's Daily Online
 |date=2006-02-27
 |accessdate=2008-03-15
}}</ref>  The construction of Kenkiyak–Kumkol section was agreed between Kazakhstan and China on 18 August 2007.<ref name=reuters2>
{{cite news
 | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL1872705320070818
 | title=Kazakhstan, China agree on pipeline from Caspian
 | author=Maria Golovnina
 | publisher=[[Reuters]]
 | date=2007-08-18
 | accessdate=2008-03-15}}
</ref>  This section was completed on 11 July 2009.<ref name=CNPC>
{{cite press release
 |url= http://www.youroilandgasnews.com/cnpc+announces+kenkiyak-kumkol+section+of+kazakhstan-china+oil+pipeline+becomes+operational_35798.html
 |title=CNPC announces Kenkiyak-Kumkol section of Kazakhstan-China Oil Pipeline becomes operational 
 |publisher= [[China National Petroleum Corporation]]
 |date=2009-07-15
 |accessdate=2009-07-15
}}</ref>

The pipeline was developed by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the Kazakh oil company KazMunayGas.<ref name=xinhua1>
{{cite news
 |url=http://news3.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/12/content_4819484.htm
 |title=Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline opens to operation
 |publisher=[[Xinhua]]
 |date=2006-07-12
 |accessdate=2008-03-15
}}</ref>

Currently capacity is at 14 million tons per year. The pipeline is expected to reach nominal capacity of 20 million tons per year in 2014.
<ref>
{{cite news
 |url=http://www.energyglobal.com/news/pipelines/articles/Kazakhstan_to_China_oil_pipeline_could_start_operating_at_its_full_capacity_by_2014.aspx
 |title=Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline could start operating at its full capacity by 2014
 |publisher=[[energy global]]
 |date=2012-11-09
 |accessdate=2013-06-15}}
</ref>

==Technical description==
The {{convert|2228|km|mi}} long pipeline runs from [[Atyrau]] in [[Kazakhstan]] to [[Alashankou]] in China's Xinjiang.  The Kenkiyak-Atyrau section of the pipeline is {{convert|449|km|mi}} long and has a capacity of {{bbl to t|120|mlt=k|per=d|t_per=a}}. Capacity of the pipeline maybe upgraded to {{bbl to t|180|mlt=k|per=d|t_per=a}} in the future.  The pipeline was built and is operated by MunaiTas a joint venture between CNPC and KazMunayGas.

The Atasu-Alashankou section of the pipeline cost US$700&nbsp;million. It is {{convert|987|km|mi}} long and has a capacity of {{bbl to t|200|mlt=k|per=d|t_per=a}}. Capacity of this section might be upgraded to {{bbl to t|400|mlt=k|per=d|t_per=a}} by 2011.<ref name=peoplesdaily/><ref name=chinadaily>
{{cite news
 |url= http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/15/content_503709.htm
 |title=China-Kazakhstan pipeline starts to pump oil
 |publisher=China Daily 
 |date=2005-12-25
 |accessdate=2008-03-15
}}</ref>  The pipeline includes an oil metering station at the [[Dzungarian Gate|Alataw Pass]].<ref name=xinhua1/>  The pipeline was built and is operated by a joint venture between CNODC and KazTrans Oil JSC. The first oil through this pipeline reached the refinery in August 2006.

The Kenkiyak-Kumkol section is {{convert|792|km|mi}} long.  It has initial transportation capacity of 10&nbsp;million tons per year.<ref name=CNPC/>  This section has reached its full capacity in 2011.<ref name=upstream2>
{{cite news
 |url=http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article152009.ece
 | title=Beijing digs in with Kazakh pipes
 | newspaper = [[Upstream (newspaper)|Upstream Online]]
 | publisher = NHST Media Group
 | date=2008-04-09
 | accessdate=2008-04-19}}
</ref>

==Alashankou–Dushanzi Crude Oil Pipeline==
In Alashankou, the pipeline is connected with the '''Alashankou–Dushanzi Crude Oil Pipeline''', which is a {{convert|246|km|mi}} long pipeline connecting the Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline with [[Dushanzi District]].<ref name=Peyrouse>
{{cite paper
 | url = http://www.silkroadstudies.org/new/docs/Silkroadpapers/2007/0709China-Central_Asia.pdf
 | title = Economic Aspects of the Chinese–Central Asia Rapprochement
 | author = Sébastien Peyrouse
 | publisher = Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program – A Joint Transatlantic Research and Policy Center
 | date = September 2007
 | format = PDF
 | accessdate = 2009-01-25}}
</ref><ref name=xinhua300706>
{{cite news
 | url = http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-07/30/content_652854.htm
 | title = Pipeline carries Kazakh oil to China
 | publisher = [[China Daily]]
 | agency= [[Xinhua]]
 | date = 2006-07-30
 | accessdate = 2009-01-25}}
</ref>  The capacity of pipeline is 10&nbsp;million tons of oil per year and it supplies mainly the [[Dushanzi refinery]]. The pipeline became operational on 21 December 2005 and the first oil through this pipeline reached to the refinery on 29 July 2006.<ref name=cnpc>
{{cite web
 | url = http://www.cnpc.com.cn/eng/company/presentation/history/MajorEvents/2006.htm
 | title = Major events 2006
 | publisher = [[China National Petroleum Corporation]]
 | accessdate = 2009-01-25}}
</ref>  The pipeline is constructed and operated by the [[China National Petroleum Corporation]] (CNPC).

==Oil supplies==
The Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline is supplied from the Aktobe region's fields and from the [[Kumkol field]]. In the future, the main supply source will be [[Kashagan Field|Kashagan field]]. The pipeline is used also for the transportation of oil from [[Russia]]'s western [[Siberia]] by connection with the [[Omsk]] (Russia)–[[Pavlodar]] (Kasakhstan)–[[Shymkent]]–[[Türkmenabat]] ([[Turkmenistan]]) pipeline in Atasu oil terminal.<ref name=asiatimes>{{cite news
 |url=http://atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/GB09Ag02.html
 |title= Caspian oil exports heading east
 |author=Alexander Sukhanov 
 |publisher=Asian Times
 |date=2005-02-09
 |accessdate=2008-03-15
}}</ref>  Oil is transported through this pipeline by Russian companies [[TNK-BP]] and [[Gazprom Neft]].<ref name=reuters1>{{cite news
 |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL1276756220080312
 |title=Gazprom Neft asks to send more oil to China
 |publisher=[[Reuters]]
 |date=2008-03-12
 |accessdate=2008-03-15
}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|China|Kazakhstan|Energy}}
* [[Central Asia – China gas pipeline]]
* [[Eastern Siberia – Pacific Ocean oil pipeline]]
* [[Lanzhou–Zhengzhou–Changsha product oil pipeline]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*Chow, Edward, "Central Asia’s Pipelines: Field of Dreams and Reality," in [http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=456 Pipeline Politics in Asia: The Intersection of Demand, Energy Markets, and Supply Routes] ([[National Bureau of Asian Research]], 2010)
* [http://www.sras.org/geopolitics_of_oil_pipelines_in_central_asia The Geopolitics of Oil Pipelines in Central Asia], Article on the Kazakhstan-China pipelines featured in Vestnik, the Journal of Russian and Asian Studies Winter 2007

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline}}
[[Category:Oil pipelines in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Oil pipelines in China]]
[[Category:Energy in Siberia]]
[[Category:Energy in Central Asia]]
[[Category:China–Kazakhstan relations]]