China is stepping up the exploration and development of coalbed methane, or CBM, as a vital strategic move to optimize its energy mix and ensure domestic gas supply, buoyed by a newly unveiled government roadmap targeting massive production boosts in the nation's resource-rich heartland.
The National Energy Administration has released an action plan for increasing reserves and the production of CBM in the eastern Ordos Basin, aiming to comprehensively upgrade the region's extraction capacity during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30). The plan is designed to transform the basin into a world-class production base characterized by improved efficiency and core technological breakthroughs.
CBM is an unconventional natural gas found in coal deposits. According to the NEA, the industry's scale has expanded rapidly in recent years, yielding significant economic and environmental benefits. The Ordos Basin, with its extensive coal-bearing strata and high gas content, is uniquely positioned to lead this frontier.
Under the new plan, the region is projected to add over 600 billion cubic meters of proven geological reserves by 2030. Annual production is slated to reach 18 billion cu m, of which over 16 billion cu m will be drawn specifically from deep-layer CBM.
