URUMQI - Xinjiang will ramp up its energy production in 2024, as trade disruption in the Red Sea and a drive to lift its sputtering economy put pressure on China's energy needs.
The north-western autonomous region, which has rich resources in oil, natural gas, coal and minerals, plans to build large-scale oil and gas production, processing and storage bases, and tap more oil and gas fields. It will also speed up coal production while increasing its reserves of oil and gas.
These plans were set out by the region's governor Erkin Tuniyaz in his work report on Jan 30 as he opened Xinjiang's annual parliamentary meetings in the capital city of Urumqi.
In a first, the Xinjiang government allowed some foreign diplomats and journalists to attend the opening ceremonies of the two meetings, which will go on for four days and will be attended by more than 1,000 legislators and delegates.
Xinjiang is one of the last of the 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions to hold their yearly legislative session ahead of the national conclave in Beijing in March known as the Two Sessions.
This story is from the February 01, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the February 01, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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