China's energy self-sufficiency rate to hit 84.6%

China's energy self-sufficiency rate is projected to climb to 84.6 percent in 2026, as the country intensifies efforts to insulate its economy from global supply volatility, according to a report released by a think tank on Tuesday.

Domestic energy production is expected to reach 5.37 billion tons of standard coal equivalent in 2026, while total energy consumption is expected to hit 6.35 billion tons of standard coal in 2026, according to the China National Petroleum Corp Economics and Technology Research Institute.

The projected production levels would mark a continued improvement in the nation's energy security posture, it said.

The outlook follows a strong performance in 2025, where domestic output reached about 5.2 billion tons, resulting in a self-sufficiency rate of 84.4 percent.

Wu Mouyuan, vice-president of the institute, said China has maintained a steady upward trajectory in energy independence over the last decade.

"China's energy security capacity is steadily consolidating," Wu said, emphasizing that the focus remains on balancing robust domestic supply with high-quality economic development.

Domestic energy output has grown at an average annual rate of 4.7 percent over the past 10 years. The rate has increased by an average of 0.6 percentage points annually, he said.