According to China's National Development and Reform Commission statement dated Friday, September 3, 2021, the $143 million (960 million yuan) methane pipeline will link China's northern provinces, specifically Shaanxi and Shanxi.

The 74.1-Kilometers-long pipeline will transport two billion cubic meters of natural gas annually based on its design. The newly approved pipeline channel will be part of the already developed pipeline network linking Shenmu city—Shaanxi Province, and Anping County, Hebei Province.

In 2019, the state's planner sanctioned another pipeline network linking Shanxi through Hebei, transmitting 5 billion cubic meters yearly. The multimillion cross-regional pipeline aims at boosting coalbed methane development.

The newly approved pipeline system will be under the management of China United Coalbed Methane Corp, which is a branch of China's CNOOC

While pipeline networks are not always popular for low volumes of fuel, it's noteworthy that pipeline transport is increasingly becoming a preferred means of fuel transport in the 21st century due to its low transmission cost, low accident risks, and environmental-friendliness.

Ideally, moving billions of liters of fuel across miles drastically reduces the volume of carbon emissions that could have otherwise been emitted if a fleet of automotive tankers were used to transport the fuel.