China discovers more energy reserves in 2015

China's domestic energy discoveries last year helped fuel economic growth and reduce reliance on imports, the Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) said Wednesday.

China discovered 1.12 billion tonnes of proven oil reserves in 2015, the 13th year that discoveries have exceeded 1 billion tonnes, Yu Haifeng, an official with the MLR, said at a briefing.

In 2015, 217 million tonnes discovered were technically recoverable oil.

Yu said China's oil output rose 1.9 percent year on year to 215 million tonnes last year. During the 2011-2015 period, China's total oil production stood at 1.05 billion tonnes, compared with 953 million tonnes during the 2006-2010 period.

Natural gas deposits also rose sharply, with new proven reserves totaling 677.22 billion cubic meters in 2015, of which 375.44 billion cubic meters were technically recoverable.

Natural gas production was 601.32 billion cubic meters over the past five years, rising 54.9 percent year on year. In 2015, gas output hit 124.36 billion cubic meters, Yu said.

Shale gas production has also accelerated over the past two years, with total output reaching 5.72 billion cubic meters.

In 2015 alone, shale gas production soared 258.5 percent from one year earlier to 4.47 billion cubic meters.

The country discovered 437.38 billion cubic meters of shale gas reserves last year, of which 109.35 billion cubic meters were technically recoverable. Endi