Natural gas to fire nation's energy future, say experts

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Natural gas to fire nation's energy future, say experts

China has a bright future in the natural gas market, according to industry officials at a natural gas forum in the city Monday.

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China has a bright future in the natural gas market, according to industry officials at a natural gas forum in the city Monday.

"China will endeavor to explore new natural gas sources and promote the use of the clean energy," said Wang Jing, an official with the Energy Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission on the First ASEAN+3 Natural Gas Forum.

"China is also seeing greater development of the natural gas pipeline system."

Zhang xin, director general of China National Petroleum Corp's international department, said China is expected to need up to 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas by 2010, 80 percent of which can be met by domestic production.

The gap may translate into a bright future for the natural gas sector, Zhang said.

Bai rongchun, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, said in a previous interview that China will need 200 billion cubic meters of natural gas by 2020, 80 billion cubic meters of which will have to be met by imports.

Statistics released at the forum show that China's growth rate for consumption of natural gas will see it account for 27 percent of Asia's total natural gas demand by 2020. The figure in 2000 was 12 percent.

Zhang said he hopes that C NPC, the parent of PetroChina Co Ltd, can seek opportunities to cooperate with countries from East Asia to tap the country's booming natural gas market.

Katsuhiko suetsugu, secretary general of Asia-Pacific Energy Forum, said the most challenging part for China to promote the natural gas usage may be its relatively high price compared with cheaper but dirtier energy such as coal.

China may need to discourage the use of coal by increasing charges for coal and encouraging the use of natural gas, Suetsugu added.

Industry officials noted at the forum that though coal remained the largest energy source of Asia, total coal demand is shrinking while the growth for natural gas is surging.

The ministry of Commence has recently released a report that China's coal and oil demands are still rising this year.

China is expected to see a crude oil demand of 270 million tons this year, with imports more than 100 million tons.

The country imported 91.12 million tons of oil in 2003, an on-year rise of 31.3 percent, China's customs department said.

Source: Shanghai Daily

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