kazakhstan is due to open the valves thursday on a major pipeline carrying oil to fuel-hungry china, establishing the energy-rich former soviet republic)s first oil export route that bypasses russia. for the vast central asian nation, which is expected to become one of the world)s largest oil exporters, the 1,000-kilometer (625-mile) pipeline opens a huge market. it is designed to carry 20 million tons (140 million barrels) of oil annually to china. for china, the new route is a key achievement in aggressive efforts to secure foreign energy supplies for its booming economy. the pipeline is a 50-50 joint venture between state companies china national petroleum corp. and kazmunaigaz. kazakh president nursultan nazarbayev is expected to push a button at kazmunaigaz headquarters in the capital, astana, to open the flow from the pipeline that starts in the central town of atasu, 280 kilometers (174 miles) to the south, according to a report of associated press. --spa 14:24 local time 11:24 gmt nnnn
