By staff reporters Xu Chao and Zhang Yanling

(Caijing.com.cn) It may take 15-20 years before China develops sufficient know-how to commercially exploit its natural gas hydrate reserves, a senior government engineer said Wednesday.

The China Geological Survey under the Ministry of Land and Resources announced on Sept. 25 that flammable ice has been discovered for the first time on land in the Qilianshan Mountain area, Qinghai Province in northwest China.

China has not drawn detailed plans for commercially extracting flammable ice, or methane hydrate, said Zhang Hongtao, chief engineer of the ministry and deputy director of the China Geological Survey on Oct. 28.

It will take 15 to 20 years for China to begin commercial-scale production of flammable ice, including five years for a trial program, said Zhang.

Unlike some experts in Taiwan, Japan and Korea who believe commercial-scale production should start as soon as possible, Zhang said the priority for China is to further study flammable ice, rather than attempt to extract it for commercial purpose regardless of numerous difficulties involved.

Compared with other countries, the research of flammable ice in China is five to seven years behind. Zhang suggested that the government should integrate the trial program for its commercial extraction into the 12th Five-Year Plan.

One cubic meter of flammable ice produces as much energy as 164 cubic meters of natural gas, according to Zhang. The frozen gas is being contemplated as a possible replacement to fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. It is regarded as the most promising strategic resource in the 21st century. According to preliminary evaluations by scientists, the resource reserves for long-term exploitation in China are at least equal to 35 billion tons of petroleum.

Full article in Chinese: http://www.caijing.com.cn/2009-10-28/110297157.html