URUMQI, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The Tarim Oilfield in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region had sent 33.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas to the southern part of the region by May, benefiting 4 million local residents.

This amount of natural gas can replace 43.16 million tonnes of standard coal, which is equivalent to a reduction of 29.88 million tonnes of harmful emissions, said PetroChina Tarim Oilfield Company Saturday.

A natural gas network around the Tarim Basin has been built with four main pipelines and 19 branch lines with total length of more than 2,400 km in operation since 2013.

As one of China's largest natural gas producers, the Tarim oilfield is expected to raise the annual output to 30 billion cubic meters in 2020.