China scrambles to meet energy demand
The country is turning to gas to plug the gap in its energy supplies, but it will have to pay a hefty price
China’s worst energy supply crunch in a decade is having a significant impact on the world’s second-largest economy, spooking Beijing and setting off a rush for energy supplies that could leave other countries out in the cold this winter. At least 20 Chinese provinces have wrestled with either sudden blackouts, rolling power outages or official calls to reduce energy use in recent weeks. The supply crunch stretches from the northeastern provinces of Jilin, Heilongjiang and Liaoning to the manufacturing powerhouses of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong on China’s eastern and southern seaboards. The severity of the situation has unnerved the country’s top leadership. Premier Li Keqiang vowed that
Also in this section
29 April 2026
Trafigura’s $1b prepayment agreement confirms African resource holders’ renewed interest in oil-backed financing deals as they look to capitalise on high oil prices
29 April 2026
The UAE’s departure from the oil producers’ group was a surprise to many, but the move can be traced back to a single point five years ago
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls






