China’s move to new energy resources reaps huge dividends

China 24

As part of China’s plan to reduce air pollution, the country is turning to natural gas to meet more of its energy needs.

Officials said a project that explores for new gas fields has had major successes since it started nearly 10 years ago.

CGTN’s Elaine Reyes reports.

The discovery of natural gas reserves in China has more than doubled from 6 trillion cubic meters in 2007 to 13-trillion cubic meters in 2016. And in that same period, production has also doubled in size.

Natural gas now accounts for more than 6 percent annually of primary energy needs in China. And it could reach as much as 10 percent in the next three years. China is the world’s biggest energy consumer.

Chinese scientists said internationally, when it comes to searching for energy resources, the focus is changing.

“From a global perspective, competition for resources has shifted to competition in technology. So it is very important and crucial to have this significant science and technology project,” Jia Chengzao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said.

Natural gas is also coming to China from neighboring countries. A major gas pipeline was completed in Kazakhstan in April 2017 that will carry gas from Central Asia to China. Able to supply 6 billion cubic meters of gas a year, the Chinese-Kazahk funded project will allow people along the route to access new sources of energy.

“This project has created more than 2,000 jobs for Kazakhstan. It will supply natural gas to 1.5 million people in about 500 settlements along the line,” Yuan Wenyao, a manager of the Chinese joint venture company of the Southern Natural Gas Pipeline Project said.

The pipeline serves as a model project for connecting energy facilities along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative.


Carl Larry discusses China’s use of natural gases

To learn more about China’s reliance on natural gases, CGTN’s Elaine Reyes spoke with Carl Larry, principal consultant for Oil Outlooks and Opinions.