China will accelerate the construction of natural gas reserve facilities and improve the peak shaving operation mechanism
#行业新闻 ·2018-07-16 14:18:15
International Online Report (Reporter Xiao Zhongren): In response to the "shortcomings" of insufficient natural gas reserve capacity and imperfect peak shaving mechanism, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration of China recently jointly issued a document calling for accelerating the construction of natural gas reserve facilities, building a sound market mechanism for gas storage peak shaving auxiliary services, and ensuring stable natural gas supply and sustainable industrial development.
According to documents provided by the National Development and Reform Commission of China, currently, China's natural gas reserve capacity accounts for less than 6% of the national consumption, while the international average is over 15%. Countries such as Europe, America, Japan, and South Korea have even higher reserve capacity. From last winter to this spring, China experienced a significant shortage of natural gas supply, further exposing the "weakness" of insufficient reserve capacity. In response, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration of China jointly issued a document clarifying the need to accelerate the construction of gas storage facilities and improve the market mechanism for gas storage peak shaving auxiliary services.
On the 27th, Yan Pengcheng, spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission, stated in Beijing that this document specifies specific requirements for gas storage indicators to accelerate the construction of gas storage facilities: "By 2020, gas supply enterprises must have a gas storage capacity of no less than 10% of their contracted annual sales volume; urban gas enterprises must have a gas storage capacity of no less than 5% of their annual gas consumption; and local people's governments at or above the county level must have a gas storage capacity of no less than 3 days to meet the demand of their administrative regions
It is reported that in the future, the construction of natural gas storage facilities will mainly focus on underground gas storage and liquefied natural gas receiving stations along the coast, with intensive and large-scale storage tanks in key inland areas as a supplement. The document has also made arrangements to address issues such as high investment in gas storage facilities and poor investment recovery channels. Liu Deshun, Director of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Department of the National Energy Administration, said, "On the one hand, we actively build an auxiliary service market to support enterprises in fulfilling their gas storage responsibilities through self built and joint construction of gas storage facilities, leasing and purchasing gas storage facilities, or purchasing gas storage services. On the other hand, we adhere to market-oriented pricing for gas storage services and peak shaving gas volume, and insist on reasonable guidance and recovery of operating costs for gas storage facility construction. In addition, we have actively sought relevant financial and tax support policies. The 'Opinions' also strengthen the punishment mechanism
In 2017, China's total natural gas production and imports reached over 230 billion cubic meters, a year-on-year increase of 15%. According to Zhao Chenxin, Director of the Economic Operation and Regulation Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission, this year, with the continuous improvement of the economy and the continued promotion of coal to gas conversion in northern regions, the overall demand for natural gas will continue to grow rapidly. He stated that in the future, on the basis of accelerating the improvement of gas storage and peak shaving capabilities, every effort will be made to increase production and supply capacity: "On the basis of protecting the subsequent production capacity of gas fields, we will reasonably increase the domestic gas field production plan. Relevant departments and enterprises are making every effort to increase the development and utilization of unconventional natural gas such as shale gas and coalbed methane. At the same time, we are coordinating with resource countries to steadily increase imports. In addition, we are also promoting the interconnection of key pipeline networks, opening up bottlenecks in pipeline networks, and striving to fully realize the national one network, one chess game as soon as possible, which can achieve the 'South North Gas Transmission' to a greater extent and achieve mutual supply and protection.