China one step closer to use of new gas energy

China has pledged to push further ahead with the exploration and production of gas hydrate in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea, following its success in mining gas hydrate in the region.

The Ministry of Land and Resources, Guangdong province and China National Petroleum Corp, the nation's largest oil producer and supplier, reached a cooperation agreement in Beijing last week to set up a pilot site exploring gas hydrate in the Shenhu area, the ministry said on Saturday.

Promoting the industrialization of gas hydrate will not only upgrade the country's energy security but also reshape its energy mix, said Minister of Land and Resources Jiang Daming.