OREANDA-NEWS. China's gas consumption recorded "hefty growth" in the first half of this year, while imports grew at twice the rate of domestic consumption, the national energy administration (NEA) said.

Total gas consumption was around 114bn m2 in January-June, up by 11.7pc from the same period last year, according to the NEA, part of top economic regulator the NDRC. Consumption in the city gas, industrial fuels and power generation sectors all maintained fast growth, it said, without providing a breakdown.

Production — including of shale gas and coal-bed methane (CBM) — rose to 74.1bn m2 in the first half of this year, up by 8pc from a year earlier. Imports increased by 16.2pc to 41.7bn m2 over the same period. China imports pipeline gas from central Asia and Myanmar (Burma), and seaborne supplies in the form of LNG.

The NEA expects gas to make up 10pc of China's total primary energy mix by 2020, equivalent to 376bn m2/yr, rising to 15pc by 2030. Gas had a 6.2pc share of the mix last year.