BEIJING, Sept 3 (Reuters) - China approved a 960 million yuan ($148.70 million) coalbed methane pipeline project linking the northern provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement on Friday.

The 74.1 km pipeline is designed to transmit 2 billion cubic metres of gas each year and will be managed by China United Coalbed Methane Corporation, a subsidiary of China's CNOOC . ($1 = 6.4558 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Muyu Xu and Gabriel Crossley; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)