Beijing pushes shale gas, again

摘要

China has unveiled a date for its long-delayed third auction of a shale acreage licence. But imports, rather than domestic output, are likely to remain the source of the country's natural gas supply growth. The land and resources ministry invited bids for exploration rights for the Zheng'an shale gas block in southwest China's Guizhou province on 6 July. This is the third auction of its kind, after one in 2011 and another in 2012. Most of the winners of previous auctions failed to achieve their targets, leading to the delay of the third auction, planned for 2013. Bidding will take place next month. Foreign firms are not eligible to bid, but joint ventures in which a Chinese firm has a majority stake will be allowed to take part.