China: 2011 gas consumption to grow 20%

China's natural gas consumption will grow 20.6 percent this year to reach 129 billion cubic meters, while production will reach 101 billion cubic meters, up 6.9 percent, and imports will surpass 30 billion cubic meters, according to a recent press release from CNPC.
"China's natural gas market has stepped into a fast-growth period," said Duan Zhaofang, an expert with CNPC Economics & Technology Research Institute.
Duan said the average annual growth rate for China's consumption and production of natural gas was 16 percent and 14 percent respectively.
Source: YICAI