The
earthquake in Myanmar has minimal impact on China’s piped gas import overall
due to low flows and short-lived repairs.
According
to sources, the Myanmar-China Gas pipeline (MCP) faced
emergency repairs at 11:30 am on March 29, after the earthquake hit Myanmar
on the afternoon of March 28. The repairs were planned to last 40-50 hours.
During the repairs, Ruili Station to 13# valve chest Station would be supplied
by piped gas inventory, and Stations after 13# valve chest would be supplied by
the reverse of Zhongwei of Ningxia-Guiyang of Guizhou Pipeline. Nonetheless,
the actual repairs were shorter than planned, and now the pipeline has returned
to normal. In addition, despite 12 bcma capacity, the flows of MCP are pinned
at a low level of about 4 bcma.
Low flows
and short-lived repairs indicate no big impact on the piped gas import for the
time being. Nonetheless, we still need to wait and see the impact of secondary
disasters like aftershocks and landslides.