CNOOC expects production to continue growing over the next two years, with plans to reach 2.25 million boe/d in 2026.

Beijing’s agenda in the South China Sea may also be spurred by energy interests

Betavolt, which was established in April 2021, says its battery "combines nickel-63 nuclear isotope decay technology and China's first diamond semiconductor (4th generation semiconductor) module to successfully realise the miniaturisation of atomic energy batteries".

At the meeting of the Standing Committee of the State Council, chaired by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, approval was granted for units 3 and 4 at China General Nuclear's (CGN's) existing Taipingling nuclear power plant in Guangdong province, as well as units 1 and 2 at China National Nuclear Corporation's (CNNC's) new Jinqimen nuclear power plant in Zhejiang province.

The daily minimum temperature in some areas of northwest China, Inner Mongolia, north China, northeast China, central and eastern Huanghuai and eastern Jianghuai regions would be more than 7 degrees Celsius lower than the historical low for this period, the CMO said.

Kazakhstan’s National Atomic Company Kazatomprom has signed a contract for the supply of natural uranium concentrate with China National Uranium Corporation Limited (CNUC - a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation).

Russia is counting on a planned new pipeline to China as it seeks to make up for lost gas sales in Europe, but industry insiders see major political risks around a project that is overly dependent on one buyer and question whether it will justify the huge costs.

China has ramped up coal output since the 2021 power crisis in order to avoid a repeat, with this year’s annual production set to notch another record. Demand growth has also been relatively subdued amid China’s bumpy economic recovery.

“Russian and Australian coal shipments are taking market share from China’s biggest exporter Indonesia this year,”

CNNC said the recent achievement “once again broke the operation record of China's nuclear fusion devices based on magnetic confinement, overcoming many technical challenges”. It added: “This milestone holds great importance in China's nuclear fusion energy development, signifying a crucial step forward in the research of high-performance nuclear fusion plasma operation.