As a major energy province, Shanxi possesses abundant unconventional natural gas resources. According to data released by the Shanxi Provincial Bureau of Statistics on April 21, the province has intensified efforts to boost production and supply of unconventional natural gas this year. In the first quarter, total output reached 5.02 billion cubic meters, marking a year-on-year increase of 15.3% and setting a new record for the same period in history.

Unconventional natural gas refers to natural gas that differs significantly from conventional gas reservoirs in terms of underground occurrence and accumulation patterns, including shale gas, coalbed methane, and coal measure gas. Shanxi's estimated total resources of unconventional natural gas amount to approximately 20 trillion cubic meters, accounting for about 8% of the country’s total estimated natural gas resources.

In recent years, Shanxi has continuously promoted the efficient development of unconventional natural gas resources across different strata and depths, while accelerating pipeline interconnections. This has led to a faster pace in increasing reserves and production. In 2025, Shanxi's unconventional natural gas output reached 18.23 billion cubic meters, up 8.9% year on year. As a key supplier of unconventional natural gas, Shanxi provides an important source of gas supply to ensure national energy security.