China's natural gas consumption increased by 8.7% in the January-June period of this year compared to the same period of last year, reaching 210.8 billion cubic meters (bcm), according to the '2024 China Natural Gas Development Report' published by the National Energy Administration of China.
While electricity generation from natural gas increased in the country, the capacity of natural gas combined cycle power plants was increased through investments. Demand for gas in heating and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the transport sector increased, the report said.
The country's domestic natural gas production also increased by 4.4% in the first 6 months of the year compared to the same period last year, reaching 123.5 bcm.
China's natural gas imports increased by 14.8% in the same period and reached 90.7 bcm. Of the imports, 37.7 bcm was imported through pipelines and 52.5 bcm was LNG.
- Natural gas consumption is expected to be between 420-425 bcm this year
According to the report, which predicts that natural gas consumption will increase in parallel with the country's good economic outlook, gas consumption this year is expected to hover around 420 to 425 bcm, making annual consumption around 6.5 to 7.7% higher than in 2023.
In addition, annual natural gas production is estimated to be 246 bcm, and pipeline gas and LNG imports are expected to increase in 2024.
China's natural gas consumption was 394.5 bcm in 2023, up 7.6% from the previous year. Natural gas production increased by 5.6% compared to the previous year to 232.4 bcm.
According to the report, the country's domestic gas production has increased by around 10 bcm for seven consecutive years.
China imports most of its natural gas from countries such as Russia, Turkmenistan, Australia and Qatar.
By Fuat Kabakci
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr