Annual natural gas production at PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Co, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corp, has exceeded 40 billion cubic meters on Thursday, a record high, said the company.

This accounts for about 20 percent of China's annual natural gas production this year and 11 percent of domestic natural gas consumption, it said.

The fundamental role of oil and gas in China's energy system will remain prominent in the foreseeable future, with the importance of natural gas continuing to rise. Natural gas as the primary energy status will not change before 2040, said the company.

In response to the green energy transition worldwide, the company said it would step up natural gas output in the years to come while making good use of its abundant renewable energy resources in its oil and gas fields.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn