APAC Energy Buzz: There’s still life in China’s shale gas

Just as the US shale gas boom transformed the country’s energy balance, there had been much speculation that China could replicate this success. The reality has been somewhat different as complex geology, above ground challenges and weak fiscal and regulatory support kept costs high and returns marginal. But there are reasons to be optimistic, with China’s shale gas production recording an impressive 30% year-on-year jump in 2020. Is this is start of something big or another false dawn?