The more than 100 billion yuan (US$12 billion) gas pipeline project from west to east China is scheduled to get underway in the second half of this year, a source from the State Development Planning Commission said on Friday.
Construction of both the western and eastern sections of the pipeline, respectively from Lunnan in Xinjiang Autonomous Region to Jingbian in Shaanxi Province, and from Jingbian to Shanghai, will be started at the same time, the source said.
The project has been officially approved by the State Council and all the preparation work is going smoothly, the source said.
The huge gas pipeline project is the prominent feature of China's western regional development plan and one of the biggest construction projects in China's history.
(Xinhua 02/17/2001)
