Shandong province (China) plans to cut coal capacity

The Environmental Protection Bureau (SEPB) of the Shandong province of China has released a 3-year plan against pollution. Among its main objectives, the SEPB plans to reduce coal production by 10% by 2020, from 156 Mt to 140 Mt, to boost gas consumption to 15.8 bcm by 2020 by increasing LNG imports and ensure that LNG reaches an 8% share of energy consumption in the province. In addition, it plans to raise gas imports from other provinces and targets a 70% share of clean energy sources in rural areas originates by 2020.

The plan is a part of a national strategy against pollution released by China’s State Council, whose main pillars are to cut coal consumption, incite electric vehicle sales and shut outdated steel and coke facilities.

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China plans to grant private companies access to oil, gas infrastructure

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China has issued the draft rules to concede private companies access to national oil pipelines, gas pipelines, LNG terminals and gas storage infrastructures. The motion was requested by the country’s energy operators and should mark the first concrete plan to promote fair access to gas-related facilities.

China is reforming its oil and gas sector and removing state companies' monopolies and private energy companies are being encouraged to sign term contracts to utilize the national infrastructure.

The NDRC also contemplates changing standard units for measuring energy flows, from tonnes to thermal units in order to facilitate the calculation of transportation costs.

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China's CNOOC will invest US$3bn in Nigerian oil and gas operations

The state-run company China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) plans to invest US$3bn in its Nigerian oil and gas operations, which are jointly run through joint ventures (JVs) with its state-held counterpart Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). So far, the Chinese firm has spent roughly US$14bn in the country, which is looking forward to boost its crude oil production and reserves through partnerships with major oil ans gas players such as CNOOC, ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron.

In November 2017, NNPC signed a US$1.7bn financing agreement with Chevron that would increase the Nigerian crude oil output by 39,000 bbl/d. The deal is expected to last until 2045 and the project will focus on oil, gas and condensate production from the Sonam and Okan fields located in leases OML 90 and 91 in the Niger Delta offshore Nigeria.

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