According to the company, "2,092 joints were welded fully automatically and continually; 1,713 joints were welded semi-automatically and a one-time passing rate reached 100%. These are the best records achieved to date in China."

With the completion of the welding, PetroChina believes that the foundation for the full completion of the pipeline project by late 2004 has been completed. This western section is 2,330 km long and extends from Lunnan to Jingbian and passes through the provinces of Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia and Shaanxi.

The transmission of natural gas from Tarim to Shanghai is only expected to be completed in early 2005.