Xinjiang Plans International Energy City

The central Xinjiang working conference was held, and the 19 provinces and cities opened the curtain of counterpart assistance. Xinjiang's future development path has become the focus of attention of all parties.

Reporters learned that the construction of Xinjiang international energy city project has also been put on the agenda.

"The establishment of the international energy city will greatly promote the leap forward development of Xinjiang."

Xu Fengxian, a researcher at the Institute of economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said.

The project was chaired by PetroChina (601857) natural gas group, and Xu Fengxian participated in the whole process of the planning of the international energy city as a project consultant.

"The construction of the international energy city has been recognized by many parties and will be discussed in formulating the future development plan of Xinjiang."

Xu Fengxian told reporters.

Not Xinjiang

Xinjiang is a major energy province in China. From the proven reserves, energy resources such as oil, natural gas and coal account for about 30% of the country's total reserves.

"However, the layout of China's energy industry has been biased towards the eastern coastal areas in the past."

Xu Fengxian said.

In May 2009, the State Council promulgated the plan for the adjustment and revitalization of the petrochemical industry, and proposed to strive for the formation of 20 million ton oil refining bases and 11 million tons of ethylene bases in 2011.

At the same time, since 2009, China's strategic oil reserve construction has been put on the agenda.

Xu Fengxian pointed out: "these two aspects not only provide a policy basis for the construction of Xinjiang International Energy City, but also indicate the direction of the international energy city to safeguard national energy security."

In addition to its abundant reserves of energy resources, Xinjiang has a long border line, which borders North and West on Russia and Central Asia, and is adjacent to Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India in the West Asia.

Russia is one of the five largest oil importers in China (the other four countries are Saudi Arabia, Angola, Iran and Oman).

In 2009, China's crude oil imports from the five countries exceeded 113 million 800 thousand tons, accounting for 63.9% of China's total crude oil imports.

"The establishment of the international energy city is conducive to China's development of oil and gas resources in Russia and five Central Asian countries with the help of geographical advantages, and promoting the formation of regional energy international market."

Xu Fengxian said.

Energy city to urban belt

According to the overall construction plan, the international energy city will be built into a comprehensive energy base integrating production, assembly and service, and will eventually form six pillar industries and five major platforms.

The six major industries include: energy resources development and production industry, energy deep processing value-added industry, energy pipeline pportation industry, energy safety production machinery and equipment industry, energy drilling equipment, refining and chemical equipment, new energy equipment and other manufacturing industries, and energy strategic reserve industry.

The formation of the five Central platforms is closely related to the construction of the six major industries.

According to the overall construction plan, the international energy city will be built into a modern energy equipment manufacturing center and a deep processing center for energy reserves and energy products.

The completion of the international energy city will also be accompanied by the demand for modern services such as logistics, science and technology, information, finance and so on, forming a modern service center.

"Our initial calculation, the international energy city will contribute 60 billion to 100 billion of the GDP to Xinjiang."

Xu Fengxian said.

According to Xu Fengxian's point of view, such an increase in GDP value does not just come from the international energy city itself.

The Eurasian continental bridge traverses Xinjiang, and a three-dimensional pportation system consisting of railways, highways and central city airports is also being built in southern Xinjiang.

"The construction of the international energy city will definitely promote the development of cities along these lines."

Xu Fengxian said, "at the same time, two international economic cooperation zones have been formed in the north and south respectively."

Along the northern Asian Eurasian Continental Bridge, Urumqi will be formed as the core city and westward through Shihezi, Kuitun, Dushanzi and Alashankou to form the urban belt. At the same time, economic cooperation zones will be established with Russia and five Central Asian countries.

The southern city will take Korla as the core city, and form the urban belt westward through Akesu, Tarim and Kashi, and establish economic cooperation zones with Western Asia, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.