This marks the first crude oil pipeline of 10 million-tonne capacity to commence operations at the start of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period, significantly enhancing energy supply structures in the central and eastern regions and optimizing the nationwide oil and gas network layout.
According to reports, on August 13, the Lianyungang to Yizheng crude oil pipeline project's Lianhuai section successfully began operations, a key national oil and gas infrastructure initiative. This is the first 10 million-tonne crude pipeline to be launched in the opening phase of the 15th Five-Year Plan, playing a vital role in improving energy supply configurations across central and eastern China and perfecting the country's integrated oil and gas grid.
The Lianhuai section of the Lianyungang-Yizheng pipeline starts from the initial station in the Xuwu New District of Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, and ends at the Huai'an oil station of the Rizhao-Yizheng pipeline in Huaiyin District, Huai'an City. It spans 143.8 kilometers with a designed annual transmission capacity of 18.5 million tonnes. The pipeline connects with the already operational Riyi pipeline, delivering crude oil to the Yizheng station, a key crude hub in eastern China, providing stable raw materials for multiple refineries and petrochemical enterprises in Jiangsu Province and along the Yangtze River.
A relevant official stated that after the Lianhuai section becomes operational, the maximum daily oil throughput could reach 70,000 tonnes, effectively boosting multi-channel resource security for users along the Yangtze River. This development is crucial for optimizing the oil and gas pipeline network layout in the Yangtze River Delta region and enabling unified allocation of imported crude oil resources.
Recently, China released the "15th Five-Year Plan for Building a New Energy System." The plan indicates that during this period, the country will continue to improve the nationwide oil and gas network, adding an additional 20,000 kilometers to the total pipeline mileage. Given China's large-scale crude oil imports and the concentrated nature of coastal unloading, the next five years will focus on aligning refining bases with port layouts, sea-land transport, and inland delivery. Efforts will optimize crude oil pipeline routes and flows, comprehensively enhancing inter-regional emergency mutual assistance and coordinated allocation capabilities.
The official added that the plan will promote the interconnection of crude and refined oil pipelines and improve the efficiency and quality of existing pipeline networks. It will accelerate digital and green transformation, driven by domestic substitution and AI empowerment, to continuously enhance pipeline safety, autonomous control capabilities, and green development performance.