Key breakthrough made in China's West-to-East natural gas project

The construction site of the first tunnel of the Guozigou section of the West-to-East gas transmission pipeline, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China, August 27, 2025. （Photo/CMG)

A tunnel in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was completed on Wednesday after a year of construction, marking a key breakthrough in the West-to-East natural gas transmission project.

The tunnel, the first of the Guozigou section of the West-to-East gas transmission pipeline, spans nearly six kilometers.

The West-to-East gas transmission project, comprising four pipelines, aims to optimize China's energy resource allocation by channeling abundant energy resources from the western region's production areas to high-demand markets in the eastern region.

The construction site of the first tunnel of the Guozigou section of the West-to-East gas transmission pipeline, Xinjiang, August 27, 2025. （Photo/CMG)

The Guozigou project has set several industry records and represents a significant advancement in China's ability to build long-distance pipelines under complex geological conditions.

Guozigou is situated in the heart of the Western Tianshan Mountains and serves as a key route for the second and third lines of the West-to-East project. The region's complex geology and frequent geological hazards pose challenges to the smooth operation of the gas pipeline system.

The construction project includes four long-distance mountain tunnels, which are the longest single-bore tunnels in China's oil and gas sector, featuring the largest cross-section, the highest elevation and the largest altitude difference.

Workers in the first tunnel of the Guozigou section of the West-to-East gas transmission pipeline, Xinjiang, August 27, 2025. （Photo/CMG)

"The new pipeline stretches 32 kilometers and is designed with a dual-pipe system laid in the same trench. Once completed, it will work alongside existing pipelines, providing backup and improving the overall safety of the West-to-East gas transmission system," said Yu Shichun, the project manager.

The Guozigou section of the West-to-East gas transmission project's second and third lines is set to be fully operational by September 2027. To date, these lines have delivered more than 557 billion cubic meters of natural gas, benefiting around 500 million people along the route.