According to China's current natural gas development strategy and policy, Chinese government encourages the foreign businessmen to participate in the construction and operation of the projects such as the exploration and development of natural gas, the infrastructure, natural gas power plant and gas for medium and large cities, officials with the Energy Bureau of the State Development and Reform Commission stated the other day. The fields that open to the outside world almost cover all the natural gas industry chain.

In the natural gas exploration and development at present, the country's gas areas that have already been tapped and come into being are mainly clustered in the west as well as offshore waters. The proven reserves of resources are not in great amount, but the discovery potentials are great. Besides, the exploration and development is very difficult, and the technical requirements are very high. To speed up the exploration and development of natural gas, it needs not only to increase capital investment, but also to accelerate the introduction of advanced foreign exploration and development technology and management experiences.

As for the infrastructure construction, such as the natural gas pipeline and liquefied natural gas, the parties concerned forecast that during the period from 2002 to 2020, it needs a total amount of more than RMB 220 billion for the infrastructure construction in China. It is mainly to be used in the construction of 50-thousand-kilometer natural gas pipeline, a liquefied natural gas receiving station of 10-million cubic meters and with a transportation capacity of million-tons of liquefied natural gas.

In the natural gas terminal sales field, the construction climax of long distance natural gas pipeline will soon bring about a high tide in the investment of the terminal sales market.

In the field of natural gas generating, more opportunities will be created for foreign equipment manufacturers. At present, the proportion of power generating in natural gas consumption takes up approximately 14 percents, and it will go up to over 30 percents in the future.

In the exploration and utilization of coal seam gas, there is also ample scope for foreign investment and advanced technology.

by People's Daily Online