China mulls law to better protect oil pipelines

A draft law on the protection of oil and gas pipelines was submitted to the 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) for discussion Tuesday.

Cao Kangtai, director of the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office told lawmakers that the security issue of the oil and gas pipelines in China needs to be strengthened through legislation since the safety of those pipelines face a growing number of problems as a result of rapid urbanization and expansion of pipeline networks

He said that in recent years, as a result of rapid urbanization, buildings and roads have been built in the buffer areas for the pipelines, which added difficulties to protecting those pipelines.

Cao pointed out that as one of the five largest transportation methods, the pipeline network carries 70 percent of the country's crude oil, and 99 percent of its natural gas, thus playing an important role in economic development, national defense and social security. But the safety of the network is serious as the theft of oil and gas through illegal siphoning on the pipelines is rampant and the pipelines, especially the gas ones are vulnerable to possible terrorist attacks.

Therefore Cao says it is necessary to set up a more effective protection system and improve the protection measures of those pipelines.

This draft law also proposes stronger supervision of security of the pipelines from government departments at different levels, and clarifying the responsibilities of the companies who operate the pipelines.

According to the draft, those who steal oil and gas from pipelines will be fined up to 10 times the value of the stolen oil or gas.

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