PetroChina, the country's biggest oil producer, expects natural gas output to surpass 70 bln cubic meters in 2010 amid growing demand as the country shifts to more environmentally-friendly energy.

Tang Yali, vice president of PetroChina unit Natural Gas and Pipeline Co, said at the China Gas Summit that PetroChina plans to sell 37 bln cubic meters of natural gas this year, with the sales target accounting for 80 pct of output in 2006.

China's natural gas consumption is expected to grow at 15 pct in the 15 years to 2020, Wang Jing, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission's energy department said recently.

China's consumption of natural gas in 2005 was 47.9 bln cubic meters.