China to bolster energy security, intl co-op in 15th Five-Year Plan period

China will expand its network of international oil and gas cooperation and diversify import sources and transportation routes during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, as it seeks to strengthen energy security, a National Energy Administration official said on Friday.

China will step up efforts to coordinate domestic production with diversified imports to ensure stable oil and gas supplies, said Ge Ju, a deputy director of the administration's planning department, at a news conference held by the National Development and Reform Commission.

On the domestic front, China will intensify investment and exploration under its 10-year action plan for oil and gas exploration and production to strengthen its resource base, Ge said.

The country will focus on major oil and gas basins, including Ordos, Bohai Bay and Sichuan-Chongqing, while accelerating the development of a number of national strategic oil and gas supply bases.

In addition, China will boost production from deepwater and deep-earth resources, unconventional deposits and mature oil and gas fields, with the aim of keeping crude oil output stable and increasing natural gas production rapidly, he said.

The country will also strengthen its oil and gas reserve to improve the role of strategic reserves in balancing supply and demand and responding to emergencies. It plans to develop major natural gas storage projects to enhance its ability to meet peak demand and cope with supply disruptions.

On imports, China currently conducts oil and gas trade cooperation with nearly 50 countries worldwide, with sources covering major oil and gas exporting nations, Ge said.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, China will expand cooperation with major overseas oil and gas producing regions and further diversify import sources and transportation routes.

It will also consolidate and expand strategic overland import routes and safeguard maritime transportation channels to ensure that imported energy supplies can be secured and delivered reliably, he said.