Progress, Challenges, and Strategies for China’s Natural Gas Industry Under Carbon-Neutrality Goals

In recent years, the Chinese government has introduced a series of energy-saving, emission-reducing, and environmentally protective policies. These policies have gradually decreased the proportion of high carbon-emitting energy consumption, such as coal, in China’s energy structure. The proportion of natural gas consumption as a clean energy source has been increasing year by year. In the future, with the deepening decarbonization of the energy structure, the applied scope of natural gas utilization will expand, increasing demand. Therefore, this study first evaluated the development of China’s natural gas industry from the perspectives of development evolution, technological applications, and industry achievements. Secondly, based on the current situation of conventional and unconventional natural gas development, both resources and technological potential were analyzed. By taking several typical projects in the natural gas industry as examples, medium- and long-term prospects for natural gas development were planned and predicted. Building on this analysis, we employed the SWOT method to examine the development prospects of China’s natural gas industry and propose development goals. Finally, based on top-level design considerations and previous research analysis, suggestions and measures were proposed for technology implementation, regional layout, industrial chain collaboration, and support policies. These recommendations aim to provide planning support and management references for the development of China’s natural gas industry.