PetroChina unit to get $2.2 bln for gas pipeline

SHANGHAI, Dec 27 (Reuters) - PetroChina said on Thursday that the group's oil and gas exploration arm would receive a 16 billion yuan ($2.2 billion) injection to help it build a natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China.

PetroChina (601857.SS)(0857.HK) and an affiliate will each inject 8 billion yuan in cash into China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corp, the country's biggest oil company said.

The injection will not change the equal 50 percent stakes held by PetroChina and the affiliate in the exploration arm.

PetroChina's parent CNPC said in August that the pipeline would be designed to take in 30 billion cubic metres of gas a year. CNPC has agreed to import that amount from Turkmenistan annually, with the first flow targeted as early as 2009. (Reporting by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Rory Channing)