Once fully operational, the US$16.9 billion pipeline could carry as much as 20 billion cubic metres of gas per annum.

In a statement TOC President Sun Longde said, “The mainland’s petroleum industry [is] pinning its hopes on oilfields in the Tarim Basin, an oil reserve of 400,000 tonnes and a gas reserve of 657.9bn cubic metres. It is the main battlefield of China’s oil and gas sector in the new century to come [and] will play the role of a stabilising force [for] our oilfields in eastern provinces, and a critical role in the development of oil and gas resources in western regions.”

“The pipeline [will] help ease the mainland's energy shortage, especially in coastal provinces. The project has the capacity to supply natural gas to eastern provinces and cities. I am confident that it will be able to provide a stable gas supply for more than 30 years,” he added.

The pipeline is due to be fully operational in October but will only officially supply gas to Shanghai sometime early next year.