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Carol Yang

Against the backdrop of oil prices surging past US$100 per barrel for the first time since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, China has its sights set on strengthening energy security by stabilising domestic crude production and strategic backups – exemplified by coal-to-oil and gas projects – for the next few years.
The nation pledges to maintain annual crude production at 200 million tonnes, ensure a steady rise in natural gas output, and bolster technical readiness for coal-derived fuel through 2030, according to its latest five-year economic road map released on Thursday.
“[China will remain] committed to ensuring self-sufficiency in meeting the core demand for oil and gas, implementing medium- and long-term strategic actions to expand reserves and ramp up production,” the draft plan said.
As global oil supplies hang in the balance due to the Middle East conflict, both Brent crude – one of the leading benchmarks for the global crude oil commodity market – and West Texas Intermediate crude, a key US oil benchmark, breached US$100 a barrel in early Monday trading.
US President Donald Trump’s promise last week of state-backed maritime insurance and possible naval escorts for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz has failed to cool markets.
China’s 15th five-year plan targets overall energy production capacity equivalent to 5.8 billion tonnes of standard coal by 2030, up from the goal of 4.6 billion tonnes set in the 14th five-year plan.
Actual capacity at the end of last year was 5.13 billion tonnes, according to National Energy Administration data.
To achieve these goals, major oil and gas exploration and storage projects have been included in the new half-decade plan. These will span northern China’s Ordos Basin, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in the west, and Bohai Bay in the northeast.


Expanding exploration also forms a critical part of China’s push for technological breakthroughs, with the government outlining mandates for ultra-deepwater development in the draft plan.
Regarding coal-to-oil and gas, China will accelerate the development of strategic bases in Xinjiang, northern China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region and northwest China’s Shaanxi province to serve as resource backups, the draft said.
In addition to securing traditional energy output, China continues its shift to clean energy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
Over the next five years, China will accelerate efforts to meet incremental power demand with new clean-energy sources, while pushing for peak consumption of coal and oil, the draft plan said.
The country, which targets a carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, aims to increase the share of non-fossil energy in total consumption to 25 per cent by 2030, up from 21.7 per cent in 2025.
The draft plan also mentions strengthening international cooperation in energy-source development and safeguarding the security of strategic channels.
Beijing has called for an end to the war on Iran, noting that the Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters serve as vital international trade arteries.
The reopening of the strait remains highly uncertain, energy intelligence provider Vortexa said in a report on Friday, noting that 35 unladen very large crude carriers – a designation for oil tankers capable of carrying roughly 2 million barrels each – were waiting on the eastern side of the waterway.
The US International Development Finance Corporation on Friday announced a maritime reinsurance plan for the Gulf, following a social media post by Trump, without detailing the eligibility criteria for vessels.


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Amid Mideast instability and US$100 oil, China is mapping out strategic production bases, underpinning long-term energy security


Amid Mideast instability and US$100 oil, China is mapping out strategic production bases, underpinning long-term energy security.


China vows to stabilise oil and gas output in new 5-year plan as global risks mount

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Amid Mideast instability and US$100 oil, China is mapping out strategic production bases, underpinning long-term energy security

Amid Mideast instability and US$100 oil, China is mapping out strategic production bases, underpinning long-term energy security