China's Sinopec: gas production up 40% as demand grows

China’s state-owned energy giant Sinopec reveals natural gas production soars by 40%, as proven reserves ebb lower, suggesting heightened imports are on the horizon

China's major oil and gas producer Sinopec said natural gas production has increased by 40.7%, from 142.51 billion cubic feet (bcf) to 200.55 bcf, signalling the country's increasing appetite for energy.

In July this year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) claimed that China has overtaken the US as the largest energy user, by consuming the equivalent of 2.25 billion tons of oil last year from sources such as coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear power and hydropower, which is about 4% more than