China's natural gas consumption is to reach 100 billion cubic
meters by 2010, almost double the figure for last year and well
beyond domestic production, according to a new report.
China might produce 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas by
2020, but consumption will increase by 11 percent to 13 percent to
reach 200 billion cubic meters by that time, and almost half would
have to be imported, Friday's Shanghai Securities News reported,
quoting the 2007 China Energy Development Report.
The report, published by the Social Science Publishing House of
China, says the national gas pipeline network will cover 270 cities
and by 2050 about 65 percent of cities will have access to gas
supply.
Total national energy consumption in 2006 included 2.37 billion
tons of coal, up 9.6 percent year on year; 320 million tons of
crude oil, up 7.1 percent; and 55.6 billion cubic meters of natural
gas, up 19.9 percent.
The government is considering energy price reform to encourage
efficient energy use by companies and the public. China reduced
energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 1.2
percent last year, well short of its four percent target.
On April 1, Beijing raised the price of natural gas for domestic
use by 0.15 yuan per cubic meter to 2.05 yuan to encourage energy
efficiency.
(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2007)