China's dependence on imports to satisfy domestic oil and gas demand is fuelling fears that outside forces could disrupt the country's energy supply — and setting the stage for a massive growth in domestic exploration and production.
The alarm bells went off last August, when senior government officials were beset by news that China now relies on imports to meet the bulk of its oil demand and almost half its gas demand, prompting President Xi Jinping to urge the country to speed up domestic oil and gas exploration and development to reduce over-reliance on imports.
