China, the world's second biggest energy user, is promoting the
use of natural gas to improve the air quality and people's living
conditions. But surging demand for natural gas in Asia calls for
better cooperation and integration of ASEAN members and China,
South Korea and Japan.
The surging demand for natural gas in Asia calls for better
cooperation and integration of ASEAN members and China, South Korea
and Japan, officials attending the First ASEAN+3 Natural Gas Forum
said Monday.
"We have big producers as well as big consumers in this region.
Both sides should enhance the prosperity of the natural gas
business in the region," said an official from Indonesia.
China, the world's second biggest energy user, is promoting the
use of natural gas to improve the air quality and people's living
conditions. The country is eager to enhance cooperation with
neighboring ASEAN countries, said Xu Dingming, director-general of
the Energy Bureau, a division of the State Development and Reform
Commission of China (SDRC).
With reserves of 3.5 trillion cubic meters, or 2.3 percent of
the world's total, China is engaged in a handful of giant pipeline
projects.
It is also exploring another estimated 54 trillion cubic meters
in natural deposits.
According to Wang Jing, also with the Energy Bureau, a total of
142.4 billion yuan (US$17.3 billion) will be invested in the East
China Sea to build 10 natural gas platforms.
Meanwhile, she added, China also needs to import both liquefied
natural gas (LNG) and pipeline gas and compete in the global
market.
Zhang Xin, director-general of the China National Petroleum
Corporation (CNPC), the parent company of PetroChina, served as
chair of the forum. "Such a forum provides a good platform for us
to learn about other ASEAN members, laying the groundwork for
future cooperation," he said.
Guillermo Balce, executive director of the ASEAN Center For
Energy, said that China, and especially its coastal area, is a
strategic demand center for natural gas producing countries in
ASEAN, including Indonesia and Malaysia.
As these countries are physically close to China, he believes
they will be a good natural gas resource for China in terms of
expense and security.
"ASEAN countries are happy about China's progress," he said.
"China is moving in the right direction by taking a substantial
role in developing natural gas in the region."
In addition to long-term supply contracts, he said ASEAN+3
countries should also share technology to improve the efficiency of
natural gas utilization.
CNPC, China's largest oil company, has invested in Indonesia,
Thailand and Myanmar to prospect for and develop natural gas and
oil.
"Our policy is to diversify our sources of natural gas. We are
looking at ASEAN, as well the Middle East and Russia," he
added.
The China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), the third-largest
oil and gas company, is building the country's first two LNG
projects in Guangdong
and Fujian
provinces, using LNG imported from Australia and Indonesia.
Shanghai, Zhejiang
and Shandong
provinces are also planning their own LNG projects.
(China Daily March 30, 2004)