Oil and gas pipelines are the major arteries for national energy transmission, and their legal protection is of paramount importance. According to the "Oil and Gas Pipeline Protection Law of the People's Republic of China," the following activities are strictly prohibited: unauthorized operation of valves, damaging pipelines, or altering identification markers; driving heavy vehicles on pipeline inspection paths; and erecting power or communication lines above pipeline ancillary facilities. Within five meters on either side of the pipeline centerline, planting deep-rooted vegetation, mechanical excavation, constructing buildings, or digging channels and ponds is forbidden. Within 500 meters on either side of river crossing sections, activities such as anchoring, sand dredging, quarrying, and underwater blasting are strictly prohibited. Construction that crosses or spans pipelines, as well as operations like railway, road, or power line construction, blasting, exploration, or mining within stipulated distances from the pipeline, must not proceed without approval. The construction of densely populated areas or facilities handling flammable and explosive materials near pipelines must comply with national mandatory technical standards. These regulations form a comprehensive, end-to-end pipeline safety assurance system.
It is reported that PipeChina's West-East Gas Pipeline Company operates 1,335.5 kilometers of natural gas pipelines within Jiangxi Province, including the Second and Third Lines of the West-East Gas Pipeline and the First Line of the Sichuan-East Gas Pipeline. Its gas supply coverage extends to all 11 prefecture-level cities and 100 counties in the province, with projected natural gas transmission to Jiangxi nearing 4.8 billion cubic meters by 2025.
"The medium transported through oil and gas pipelines is characterized by high pressure, flammability, and explosiveness. Their safe operation is not only crucial for the secure transmission of national oil and gas resources but also directly impacts the safety of every resident living near the pipelines," explained a relevant safety officer from the Nanchang Gas Transmission Branch of PipeChina's West-East Gas Pipeline Company. "Pipeline protection is no trivial matter; the slightest negligence could lead to an irreparable tragedy. Protecting the pipelines is, in essence, protecting ourselves."
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