Data from the national pipeline operator on August 22 shows that the Horgos initial compression station, which serves as the starting point for both the second and third West-East Gas Pipeline routes, has now delivered more than 600 billion cubic meters of natural gas cumulatively.
Situated at a vital node along the Belt and Road Initiative, the Horgos station handles the transfer of cross-border natural gas from Central Asia as well as coal-based gas produced in the Yili region, sending these supplies onward to central and eastern parts of China. The facility has an annual transmission capacity of 60 billion cubic meters and boasts the largest installed capacity of any single compressor station in Asia.
Since beginning operations in 2009, the station has run safely and consistently for over 6,000 days, reaching a record daily throughput of 163 million cubic meters.
A staff member at the Horgos operation area under the pipeline group's western branch noted that 600 billion cubic meters of natural gas is equivalent to replacing more than 798 million tonnes of standard coal, while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by over 877 million tonnes. This clean energy, traveling through the West-East pipeline network, supports the daily gas needs of more than half a billion residents.
The Horgos station has now deployed a full-chain intelligent operations and maintenance system, integrating cloud-based laser methane detectors, machine-vision AI analysis, and intelligent compressor diagnostic technology. This setup provides comprehensive situational awareness and centralized management, marking a shift from traditional manual inspection routines to smart control systems.
Additionally, the facility has built the country's first waste-heat power generation project at a natural gas transmission station, using residual heat from gas turbine compressor units. This initiative achieves zero direct emissions from the station's machinery, generating over 65 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
Looking ahead, the operation area plans to leverage these smart technologies further to maintain stable and secure flow along the second and third West-East lines, ensuring that more than 100 million cubic meters of natural gas are delivered safely to destinations nationwide each day.