China unveils action plan to boost coalbed methane production in Ordos Basin

The National Energy Administration (NEA) released an action plan on Monday to boost coalbed methane reserves and production in the eastern Ordos Basin from 2026 to 2030, aiming to comprehensively upgrade the region's extraction capacity during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), transforming the basin into a world-class production base characterized by improved efficiency and core technological breakthroughs.

According to the NEA, the industry's scale has expanded rapidly in recent years, yielding significant economic and environmental benefits. The Ordos Basin, with its extensive coal-bearing strata and high gas content, is uniquely positioned to lead this frontier.

Under the new plan, the region is projected to add over 600 billion cubic meters (bcm) of proven geological reserves by 2030. Annual production is slated to reach 18 bcm, of which over 16 bcm will be drawn specifically from deep-layer CBM.

To achieve this, the NEA vowed to accelerate resource discovery in key reserve-building blocks, expand exploration in active areas, and aggressively pursue breakthroughs in untapped zones.