CHINA ALSO WANTS SHALE GAS

Chinese energy concern Sinopec and US concern ConocoPhilips signed an agreement to improve shale gas exploitation in China. The importance of the USA in world energy market increases thanks to unconventional gas' export

In case of energy need the experience plays a important role. On Tuesday 12/25, Chinese energy concern Sinopec signed an agreement with US concern ConocoPhilips to exploit shale gas from gas fields in Sichuan region and Qijang bloc.

As Xinhua news agency reported, Sinopec and ConocoPhilips will also cooperate in developing shale gas exploitation's techniques, in order to increase unconventional gas' use in China.

China's need of shale gas is due to an increasing Chinese national energy need. Because of troubles in gas supplies contract's renewal with Russia, China established a strong alliance with Turkmenistan, in order to import natural gas from the fourth wold gas exporter country.

On the other hand, the agreement between Sinopec and ConocoPhilips increases USA position in Asia's energy market. Washington already signed contracts with India, South Korea and Singapore to export shale liquefied gas to Asia, and deeply increased the quantity of gas exported in world market.

Nowadays, shale gas is exploited just in Northern America. However, according to several studies, shale gas fields are also present in China and Europe.

In the EU, studies on shale gas fields have been started by Poland, UK, Germany, Lithuania and Romania.

If confirmed, the presence of shale gas fields in Europe could decrease the EU energy dependence on Russia's natural gas supplies, which nowadays cover the 40% of the EU total energy need.

Shale gas exploitation in Europe, which has been banned by the governments of Bulgaria and France, is opposed by pro-Russia and ecologist lobbies.

Matteo Cazzulani