China may increase its gas imports from 53 billion cubic meters per year to between 190-270 billion by 2030, according to Li Yueqiang, head of the China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) International Department.

The increase comes as China moves to shift from coal to eco-friendly energy. The initiative is also part of the country's plan to shift focus from heavy industry to services as a growth driver.

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"Despite the fact, the Chinese economy has entered a new stage, and there has been growth slowdown, the demand for gas will increase. This corresponds to the concept of green development of the Chinese economy and the reduction of pollutant emissions," Yueqiang said, according to RIA Novosti.

Last month, CNPC vowed to boost gas exploration, production, and pipelines over the next decade. It plans to increase its local gas output by twofold to 180 billion cubic meters by 2020, according to China Daily. In 2015, CNPC managed to produce an estimated 94.5 billion cubic meters of gas, which account for 72 percent of the country's production and almost half of its consumption.

Currently, oil giants in China are investing up to 70 percent of their total budget into gas production and 10 percent in gas pipeline construction, Hou Qijun, CNPC planning department head, said.

According to RT, Russia will be China's leading natural gas provider. In fact, the countries have already started constructing the Power of Siberia pipeline, which is set to deliver around 38 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to China every year.

On the other hand, Beijing and Moscow are reportedly in talks to drill another pipeline, the Power of Siberia-2, to deliver an added 30 billion cubic meters of gas to China every year. Although the said project has not officially been launched, Russian company Gazprom is allegedly preparing for the construction, Vedomosti Daily reported.

Tagsgas, natural gas, china, cnpc, Oil, Russia, Power of Siberia pipeline