Chinese Shale Gas Output Jumps in 2016

China produced a record amount of shale gas in 2016 as the world’s second biggest economy attempts to increase the share of gas in its energy mix.

The country produced close to 7.9bn m³ of shale gas last year, up a little over 76% year on year, the ministry of land and resources said July 10. A total of yuan 8.79bn ($1.3bn) was spent prospecting for shale gas in 2016.

The ministry also provided data about coalbed methane production. China produced about 4.6bn m³ of coalbed methane in 2016. New proven coalbed methane reserves were 57.61bn m³ last year, it said.

The Chinese government is promoting greater usage of gas to tackle the problem of urban pollution. It wants the share of gas in the energy mix to rise from the current 6-7% to 10% by the end of the decade.  

Shardul Sharma