POLY-GCL Petroleum Group has made new progress in the East Africa LNG pipeline project. ZHU Gongshan, Chairman of GCL Group, claimed on May 15 that the Djiboutian government had approved GCL to construct a natural gas pipeline in Djibouti, and the investor is responsible for specific implementation of the oil pipeline development project.

During May 9-13, Zhu paid a working visit to Ethiopia and Djibouti and actively negotiated with relevant parties on promoting the “Ethiopia – Djibouti oil and gas project”. During his visit, GCL and the Djiboutian government signed an agreement on the development of the natural pipeline project. According to the agreement, the pipeline will transport the oil and gas produced in the Ogaden Basin of Ethiopia, the Djiboutian government had approved GCL to construct a natural gas pipeline in Djibouti, and the investor is responsible for specific implementation of the oil pipeline development project, covering construction, possession, operation, and transfer of the pipeline, so as to meet the requirements on market-based oil & gas operations.

In recent years, the GCL Group actively responded to the “Belt and Road” initiative and took part in the “Lighting Africa” together with China Poly Group Corporation. In November 2013, GCL decided to make an investment in the “Ethiopia – Djibouti oil and gas project” in East Africa, winning strong support from the governments of China, Ethiopia and Djibouti. The project covers an area of 120,000 kilometers, including development blocks (1,226 kilometers) and exploration blocks (115,925 kilometers).