Chinese independents set to take major role in gas

Liberalisation of energy supply infrastructure is accelerating and attracting investment beyond the state giants

Emboldened by China’s encouraging progress in opening up its gas market to new players, independent domestic developers of emerging LNG import projects are starting to discuss their ambitious plans more publicly—something amply demonstrated today at the China LNG & Gas International Exhibition & Summit. Gas project executives from lesser-known provincial markets in China lined up at the Shanghai event to promote their multibillion-dollar developments. It underlines how so-called second-tier Chinese importers are emerging as a buying force in the international LNG market—some of the companies at the event rank among China’s fast-growing players in the LNG sector outside the state-owne