BEIJING, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Chinese government data show Wednesday the country piped in 20 percent more natural gas in December than it did the same time last year.
China's General Administration of Customs reported approximately 90 billion cubic feet of natural gas was imported in December. The Platts news service reports the pipeline imports for December were 20.1 percent more year-on-year.
About 80 percent of the natural gas piped into China comes through the Central Asia-China pipeline, which links China to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
In August, China announced it started securing some natural gas volumes through a pipeline from neighboring Myanmar.
China's economy is expected to grow 7.8 percent in 2014, unchanged from 2013, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said in its January market report.
China's economy is outperforming its rivals, meaning it is taking on more energy supplies to keep up with demand.
For oil, OPEC said the 10.07 million barrels per day taken on by China last year represented a 3.4 percent increase from the previous year.
