On September 28, CNPC and Shandong provincial government signed a cooperation document on jointly establishing the Shandong natural gas pipeline company. On the same day, construction of the Taian-Weihai section commenced.
Shandong natural gas pipeline network includes one trunk and six branchs, which will run through Taian, Laiwu, Zibo, Weifang, Yantai, Weihai and Rizhao from west to east with a total length of 1,067km and the trunk length of 659km. Taian-Qingdao section and Qingdao-Weihai section are expected to be operational by June and December 2010 respectively.
Once the pipeline network becoming operational, Shaan-Jing Gas Pipeline and the Second West-East Gas Pipeline can be linked up with Shandong Province's pipeline via Ji-Ning pipeline and Taian branch to provide safe and steady gas supplies to the cities along the pipeline, and satisfy the demands of economic development and environmental protection in Jiaodong Peninsula and Jiaozhou Bay Area.