China-Myanmar oil pipeline funded; gas line planned

China's National Development and Reform Commission has approved funds for an oil pipeline between China and Myanmar. Construction is expected to start this year.

May 1, 2007

Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, May 1 -- China's National Development and Reform Commission has approved funds for an oil pipeline between China and Myanmar. Construction is expected to start this year.

Official reports said the line will link Myanmar's deepwater port of Sittwe with Kunming, the capital of China's southwestern Yunnan Province. Myanmar also will receive a Chinese government loan of some $83 million to develop its oil resources.

Further reports said China also will invest 8 billion yuan ($1 billion) to build a 2,380-km natural gas pipeline linking Myanmar with Kunming.

Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].