A dedicated natural gas pipeline supplying the Xiong'an New Area was officially put into operation on Saturday, strengthening the area's energy security by establishing a dual-source gas supply system and supporting its transition toward cleaner energy.
The 5.8-km pipeline links the Shaanxi-Beijing gas transmission network to Xiong'an in north China's Hebei Province, complementing the already operational Mengxi pipeline.
Equipped with two stations and designed with an annual transmission capacity of 3.16 billion cubic meters, the new line will provide stable natural gas supplies for industrial production, residential heating and daily household use.
"The dedicated pipeline enables natural gas from the second Shaanxi-Beijing pipeline to be delivered directly to the Xiong'an New Area, helping establish a diversified, interconnected gas supply network. It will better meet the energy needs of local businesses as well as residents for heating and everyday consumption," said Liu Gang, director of the project management center of Beijing Pipeline Company under PipeChina.
The pipeline passes through the Wen'anwa flood detention area, where high groundwater levels and a dense network of rivers and canals posed significant construction challenges.
To minimize environmental impact, a special drilling technique was employed.
"We adopted non-excavation horizontal directional drilling technology at four sections when crossing the Wen'anwa flood detention area. The pipeline was installed underground, leaving the cultivated soil layer intact so that farmland along the route can continue normal agricultural production," said Liu.
According to project officials, the pipeline's annual gas transmission capacity is equivalent to replacing about 4.2 million tonnes of standard coal, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 4.62 million tonnes each year.
Dedicated natural gas pipeline commissioned to bolster clean energy supply in Xiong'an
