Beijing, April 29, 2026 – Years of sustained investment in geological exploration have delivered a significant payoff for China's energy security, with officials announcing the discovery of 13 major new oil fields in the recently concluded 14th Five-Year Plan period.
The findings, released this week by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), mark a historic achievement in the nation's quest for resource self-sufficiency. Each of the newly discovered oil fields holds reserves exceeding 100 million tonnes, providing a substantial boost to the country's strategic energy reserves.
"The period from 2021 to 2025 represented a new height for China's oil and gas exploration," said Xiong Zili, head of exploration management at MNR, during a press conference. He revealed that total investment in the sector during the five-year span reached nearly 450 billion yuan.
The bonanza wasn't limited to oil. Explorers also identified 26 new natural gas fields, each with reserves surpassing 100 billion cubic meters. This push resulted in newly proven geological reserves of oil and hydrocarbon natural gas increasing by 51.7% and 44.2%, respectively, compared to the previous five-year period.
A key driver of this growth was the strategic focus on unconventional resources. Breakthroughs in deep coal-bed methane alone added over 1 trillion cubic meters in new proven reserves—more than the cumulative total from all shallower deposits in history. Shale oil also proved to be a game-changer in 2025, contributing 38% of the year's total new oil reserves from eight fields spread across five major basins.
"This demonstrates the successful application of advanced technologies in tapping challenging resources," noted Niu Li, deputy head of exploration management at MNR.
The exploration success has translated directly into production gains. In 2025, China's domestic crude oil output hit a record high of 216 million tonnes, while natural gas production exceeded 260 billion cubic meters. These figures underscore a tangible strengthening of the nation's domestic energy supply chain, a critical pillar of its economic resilience and long-term development strategy.
The discoveries are expected to have far-reaching implications, not only enhancing energy security but also providing a stable foundation for industrial growth and economic planning in the years ahead.
Reference(s):
China's years-long mineral hunt pays off: 13 new oil fields discovered
cgtn.com
