China to Produce 15 bcm of gas From South China Sea

China aims to produce 15 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas as a year from the South China Sea by 2015, the country’s energy administration said on Monday.

The National Energy Administration, said in its 2011-2015 five-year plan that the South China Sea would "form the main part" of the country's offshore gas exploration plans, Reuters said in a report.

China is in dispute with several of its neighbours over claims to parts of the oil and gas-rich sea, including the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.

The administration said China's total offshore output was expected to reach 20 bcm by 2015, with 15 bcm from the South China sea. Total national production is expected to be 176 bcm by 2015, including 138.5 bcm of conventional natural gas, the newswire reported.