China pipeline blast sparks safety checks

BEIJING -- China on Friday ordered a nationwide safety inspection on oil and gas pipelines after an explosion on Nov 22 killed 62 people in Shandong Province.

The inspection will continue till the end of March next year and review planning, site selection, design, management and routine maintenance, according to a notice issued by the work safety committee of the State Council, China's Cabinet.

The committee ordered inspectors to check contingency plans for evacuation by pipeline operators and local governments.

The inspection comes after the explosion of a section Sinopec's underground pipeline in the eastern city of Qingdao that had been in use since 1986.

Underground pipelines for drainage, electricity, communications, natural gas and heating have increased rapidly during urbanization.