China’s natural gas consumption surges 11.9% in 4 months

China’s consumption of natural gas has significantly spiked in the first four months of the year, Xinhua reported citing official data released on Sunday. This growth comes despite the country’s ongoing efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.

Between January and April, China’s apparent consumption of natural gas reached 143.73 billion cubic metres, a rise of 11.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2023, according to China’s National Development and Reform Commission and the National Bureau of Statistics. This strong demand continued into April, with consumption jumping by 11.8 per cent year-on-year to 35.46 billion cubic metres.

While consumption climbed, domestic production only witnessed a modest increase. China produced 83 billion cubic metres of natural gas in the first four months, up 5 per cent from the previous year. To meet demand, China also relied on imports, bringing in 43 million tonnes of natural gas during this period, a rise of 20.7 per cent year-on-year.