Group 1 - Global natural gas demand is far from peaking, with LNG expected to become the main trading method [1] - By 2030, global natural gas production is projected to reach 4.56 trillion cubic meters, with a CAGR of 1.6% from 2023 to 2030 [1] - China's natural gas consumption is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2014 to 2024, driven mainly by urban gas [2] Group 2 - China's natural gas import volume is projected to reach 132 million tons in 2024, with a year-on-year increase of 9.8% [2] - By the end of 2024, the total length of natural gas long-distance pipelines in China is expected to reach 128,000 kilometers [3] - The construction of LNG receiving stations has reached a historical high, with a total receiving capacity of 14.4 million tons per year [3] Group 3 - The market-oriented development of natural gas is progressing steadily, with a series of reforms since 2015 to establish a price linkage mechanism [4] - The dual-track pricing system for natural gas in China has been largely eliminated, establishing a market-oriented framework [4]

Group 1 - The CEO of Norway's national oil company stated that global natural gas demand is expected to grow in the long term [1]

Summary of Kunlun Energy Conference Call Company Overview - **Kunlun Energy** is a natural gas terminal company controlled by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), benefiting from stable low-cost gas supply and growing domestic natural gas demand [2][3][23]. Key Financial Metrics - **Revenue Growth**: Expected revenue for 2024 is 187 billion yuan, a 5.5% increase year-on-year, with an average annual growth rate of 17.3% from 2014 to 2024 [2][8][26]. - **Profitability**: - EBITDA for 2024 is projected at 12.5 billion yuan, a 1.6% decrease year-on-year. - Net profit attributable to shareholders is expected to be 6 billion yuan, a 4.9% increase year-on-year [2][8][26]. - **Cash Flow**: Operating cash flow for 2024 is projected at 12.6 billion yuan, with free cash flow at 7 billion yuan [9][27]. Business Segments - **Natural Gas Sales**: This is the main business segment, with average revenue growth of 13.7% and pre-tax profit growth of 15.7% from 2016 to 2024 [10][30]. - **LNG Business**: - Expected to contribute 3.577 billion yuan in pre-tax profit for 2024, with a profit margin of 75% [4][35]. - Total processing volume for 2024 is projected at 15.94 billion cubic meters, with a compound growth rate of 87.6% [4][35]. Market Position and Strategy - **Geographical Focus**: Kunlun Energy has a strong presence in the western regions of China, with 28% of its city gas projects located there, aligning with the industrial shift towards the west [12][31]. - **Industrial User Growth**: The number of industrial users has grown at an average rate of 22.54% from 2018 to 2024, benefiting from the relocation of industries to the western regions [12][32]. Competitive Advantages - **Cost Control**: The company benefits from low gas procurement costs due to its relationship with CNPC, maintaining costs below industry peers [14][33]. - **LNG Supply Stability**: The LNG business is supported by stable overseas supply from CNPC, allowing for high operational efficiency [35]. Future Outlook - **Demand Growth**: The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts a 6.8% growth in China's natural gas demand by 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing markets globally [4][19][36]. - **Profit Forecast**: Expected net profits for 2025, 2026, and 2027 are projected at 6.6 billion, 7.1 billion, and 7.6 billion yuan, respectively [4][22][38]. Dividend Policy - The company has announced a three-year dividend distribution plan, aiming to increase the payout ratio to 45% by 2025, with a current dividend of 0.3158 yuan per share [9][29]. Conclusion - Kunlun Energy is positioned for growth with a strong market presence, stable cash flows, and a focus on expanding its LNG and natural gas sales. The company is expected to benefit from favorable market conditions and strategic advantages in procurement and regional focus [2][4][22][38].

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" and is maintained [9]. Core Views - The company is expected to achieve a natural gas sales volume of 54.17 billion cubic meters in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 9.9%, with retail gas volume increasing by 8.1% [2][6]. - The company’s revenue for 2024 is projected to be 187.046 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.46%, with net profit attributable to shareholders reaching 5.960 billion yuan, up 4.89% [6]. - The company emphasizes shareholder returns, with a planned annual dividend of 0.3158 yuan per share, resulting in a payout ratio of 43% and a dividend yield of 4.18% based on the closing price on the report date [2][6]. Summary by Sections Sales Performance - The company’s industrial gas volume is expected to account for 74.9% of total sales in 2024, an increase of 5.5 percentage points year-on-year, with industrial gas volume rising by 16.5% [2][6]. - Retail gas volume in the northwest and southwest regions is projected to grow by 12% and 19.2% respectively, significantly outpacing the national average growth rate of 8% [6]. Financial Performance - The company’s LNG processing and storage business revenue is expected to grow by 1.6%, while the tax profit remains stable with a slight increase of 0.2% [6]. - The average load rate of LNG receiving stations is projected to be 87.6%, a decrease of 3 percentage points year-on-year, while LNG processing volume is expected to increase by 25.6% [6]. Dividend Policy - The company has announced a three-year dividend plan aiming for a payout ratio of 45% of net profit by the end of the fiscal year 2025 [6]. - The company has initiated interim dividends for the first time, with a payout of 0.1641 yuan per share for the interim and 0.1517 yuan per share for the final dividend [6].