China’s domestic gas steps up

Shale gas helps keep—albeit revised—targets well in sight

China is firmly on track to meet its recently announced domestic gas production goal for this year, with output to date having maintained the strong growth momentum seen in 2018-19. China’s big three state-owned oil and gas groups have stepped up development of the fuel, including from shale gas projects in southwest China, since Chinese president Xi Jinping ordered them two years ago to intensify exploration activities to strengthen national ­energy ­security. And with the geopolitical outlook looking bleak—China’s relations are being strained by its Hong Kong crackdown while the Sino-US relationship is likely to deteriorate further during US president Donald Trump’s embattled re-election c