Beijing appears to have stopped promoting shale gas as a way to cut pollution and expensive oil and gas imports amid what Chinese geologists say is the harsh realization that the reserve estimates on which the ambitious production targets are based are far too optimistic. A geologist at the Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR), which is in charge of the shale gas program, tells WGI that his ministry and top economic planners at the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) are "very embarrassed" — they know the estimates are exaggerated, but are unwilling to admit it publicly. Unlike the previous government, which talked up domestic development, no one in the new government that took office in March now "wants to mention shale gas," he says.
展开▼
