(EnergyAsia, January 18 2013, Friday) — Rolls-Royce, the UK-based global power systems company, said it has secured a US$75million contract to supply PetroChina with equipment and related services to power the flow of natural gas through a tributary in the country’s West-East Pipeline Project (EPP).

Rolls-Royce will supply six of its RB211-driven pipeline compressor units for use in Line 3 of the WEPP, the world’s longest pipeline and a crucial element of China’s drive towards cleaner energy consumption.

The latest award brings the total number of RB211 units sold for installation on China and Central Asia’s vast natural gas pipeline network to 56.

When completed in 2015, the 7,000km Line 3 will link China’s western Xinjiang autonomous region to Fuijan province in the south-east to deliver up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas per year.

Andrew Heath, President of Rolls-Royce’s Energy Unit, said:

“Rolls-Royce has a strong track record of delivering reliable technology and services to underpin China’s growing energy infrastructure. We are delighted to extend our role in the West-East Pipeline Project which uses cleaner, greener energy to boost China’s economic growth and ensure greater security of electricity supply to China’s fast-developing cities.”

Rolls-Royce, which has provided equipment to WEPP since 2004, will manufacture and package the equipment at its energy facilities in Montreal, Quebec in Canada and Mount Vernon, Ohio in the US.