PETROCHINA(SH:601857) Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-07-27 00:36Core Viewpoint - China's energy strategy is crucial for national security, especially in the context of ongoing global geopolitical tensions, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in the Middle East, which impact energy supply and security [1][3]. Group 1: Energy Production and Consumption - China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal, accounting for nearly half of global coal production and consumption, approximately 4 billion tons, with coal making up about 54% of its primary energy consumption [3][4]. - As of April 2023, China is also the largest renewable energy country, with solar photovoltaic capacity of about 1 billion kilowatts, representing 40% of global capacity, and wind power capacity of 550 million kilowatts, accounting for 45% of the global total [4][6]. - China ranks as the seventh largest oil producer and the fourth largest natural gas producer globally, while being the largest importer of both oil and natural gas, with a projected oil import dependency of around 72% in 2024 [6][7]. Group 2: Energy Security Assessment - China's energy security can be described as sensitive but not fragile, with a self-sufficiency rate of approximately 85%, as coal does not require imports, and non-fossil energy sources are domestically produced [7][8]. - The implementation of the "Oil and Gas Increase Storage and Production Seven-Year Action Plan" has led to an increase in domestic oil production from 189 million tons in 2018 to 213 million tons in 2024, with a net increase of 4 million tons annually [8][9]. - Current global oil and gas markets are characterized by oversupply, benefiting China's import strategy, as major producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia are increasing their output [9][10]. Group 3: Global Energy Market Integration - China has established a diversified energy import strategy, integrating into the global energy market through various oil and gas cooperation projects across 35 countries, including significant pipelines and strategic partnerships [10][11]. - The development of energy corridors, such as the China-Kazakhstan oil pipeline and the China-Central Asia gas pipeline, has become essential for ensuring energy security and is a hallmark of the Belt and Road Initiative [11][12]. Group 4: Future Energy Transition - The transition to renewable energy is critical, with a focus on key minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are essential for energy storage technologies, highlighting the need for domestic production capabilities to reduce import dependency [13][14]. - China's energy strategy emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between traditional fossil fuels and renewable energy, with coal's share expected to decrease while natural gas consumption is projected to rise until around 2040 [14][40].