China will hold an auction for six shale gas exploration blocks by early November, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing a government official.

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Zhang Dawei, deputy chief of the strategic planning center at the Ministry of Land and Resources, told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference that the option would be for six shale gas blocks in various provinces.

China is at the preliminary stage of developing shale gas as part of its efforts to reduce dependence on coal to reduce pollution and carbon emission.

Consumption of shale gas in China is expected to reach 15 billion cubic meters by 2020, or 0.45 percent of total energy use by then, local media reported earlier this month, citing a government official.