Xin Hua Cai Jing·2025-12-12 12:37Core Insights - The Amur Gas Processing Plant is a significant project in the natural gas sector and a testament to the deepening energy cooperation between China and Russia [6][11] - The East Route Gas Pipeline, which has been operational for six years, plays a crucial role in this cooperation [6][11] Group 1: Project Overview - The Amur Gas Processing Plant covers an area of 900 hectares, equivalent to 1,100 football fields, and was constructed over ten years with the involvement of 35,000 workers at its peak [4][6] - The plant has a planned annual processing capacity of 42 billion cubic meters and an annual helium production of 6 million cubic meters [6] - Currently, four production lines are operational, with a fifth line nearing completion and a sixth line under construction [6] Group 2: Operational Details - The plant processes raw natural gas from the Kovykta and Chayandinskoye gas fields, separating and refining it into marketable products [6] - The facility includes a central control room where technicians monitor critical parameters such as gas pressure, temperature, and composition [7] - The plant's separation tower, standing at 88 meters, purifies natural gas and produces methane, helium, and ethane, with helium supplies to China starting in September 2023, accounting for about 40% of China's helium imports [9] Group 3: Infrastructure and Community Impact - The Atamanskaya Compressor Station, the largest and closest to China on the East Route Gas Pipeline, ensures the necessary pressure for gas transportation across the Amur River [11] - The local community has benefited from the project, with the construction of 1,540 apartments for plant employees and educational facilities, including a school that will offer Chinese language courses [11] Group 4: Historical Context and Future Prospects - The cooperation between Russia and China in natural gas began with a 30-year supply agreement signed in 2014, aiming to deliver 38 billion cubic meters annually through the East Route [11] - Since the pipeline's commencement in December 2019, gas supplies have increased annually, with daily deliveries exceeding 10 million cubic meters as of December 2024 [11] - Future agreements signed in September 2025 are expected to further enhance gas supply volumes from Russia to China [11]