Natural gas output to double in decade

China's natural gas output will at least be double the present volume in the coming decade to reach 150 billion to 200 billion cubic meters. That's according to PetroChina, the country's leading natural gas producer.

The giant gas producer alone has reported an annual output rise of 10 billion cubic meters for two consecutive years. The company said it will strive to keep the same growth rate this year.

PetroChina now produces about 75 percent of China's total natural gas output. The firm said its recent discoveries of new gas fields, including a 1.2-billion-ton of gas and oil field in North China's Bohai Bay, will boost the country's natural gas sector and optimize its energy structure.

China's natural gas output reached over 69 billion cubic meters last year, up 23 percent year on year.