The first section of a £1.6billion oil and gas pipeline between Burma and China has opened.
The pipeline, which connects the Bay of Bengal with southwest China’s Yunnan province, is expected to deliver 12billion cubic metres of gas and 22million tons of oil per year.
The installation is currently 793km long, but will reach about 1100km long once completed.
The supplies will primarily cater for lesser developed South-east China, with 2million tons of oil and 20% of gas being used in Burma.
The venture involves China National Petroleum Corporation and five companies in Burma, India and South Korea, creating 6,000 jobs for Burmese workers.
China is looking for the pipeline to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Malacca for oil supplies.