China achieves major breakthroughs in oil, gas, uranium exploration: official

BEIJING -- China has made significant breakthroughs in oil, natural gas and uranium exploration, vice-minister of natural resources said Wednesday when elaborating on the country's progress in natural resource development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

Xu Dachun told a press conference that new discoveries in the deep layers of large basins and offshore deepwater areas have become key contributors to boosting oil and gas reserves and output, helping sustain annual crude oil production at around 200 million tonnes and pushing natural gas output above 240 billion cubic meters.

Multiple large uranium deposits were also newly identified, which would significantly enhance China's uranium supply security, Xu said.