Gazprom is planning to build two pipelines transmitting natural gas from Russia to China with an annual gas transmission capacity of 68 billion cubic meters, said sources with the Russian news center in Beijing on Friday.

Through video-live broadcast, Alexei Miller, Chairman of the management committee of Gazprom, said at the annual meeting of shareholders held in Moscow that the western pipeline with an annual transmission capacity of 30 billion cubic meters will be considered first.

The western line project plans to transmit natural gas produced in West Siberia to China, said Miller.

According to Miller, negotiations between Russia and China on construction of the pipelines are underway and the first pipeline is estimated to go into operation in 2011.

The Asian-Pacific region is expected to see sharp growth in demand for natural gas and China is one of the most potential markets, he said.

The joint-stock company is Russia's largest natural gas producer.

Source: Xinhua