China's discoveries of proven geological oil reserves in 2010 inched up slightly from a year earlier, but natural gas deposit findings slumped nearly 18 per cent, Ministry of Land and Resources data showed.
China, the world's largest metals consumer, also said it discovered more coal, copper, iron ore and gold deposits, as it struggles to cope with surging demand for all kinds of resources.
The second largest oil consuming country found 1.15 billion tonnes of proven geological oil reserves and 594.5 billion cubic metres of proven geological natural gas deposits in 2010, the ministry said in report in its official newspaper, China Land and Resources News.
China discovered 1.12 billion tonnes of geological oil reserves and 723.4 bcm of gas in 2009, the ministry said.
The country's remaining proven oil reserves that are technologically recoverable increased 6.5 per cent from a year earlier to 3.14 billion tonnes at the end of 2010, and remaining, extractable gas deposits gained 3.7 per cent on year to 3.9 trillion cubic metres, the newspaper report said.
It did not mention any figures on proven reserves that are commercially viable.
On other commodities, China said exploration uncovered 43.6 billion tonnes of coal, 7.98 billion tonnes of iron ore, 610 tonnes of gold resources and 3.71 million tonnes of copper.
It also found 4.93 million tonnes of lead and 7.83 million tonnes of zinc. The ministry did not say how much of these new found resources would be technologically recoverable.
Even though China boasts of having significant amounts of reserves for various resources and is the world's largest producer of many commodities, its rapid economic development has prompted its demand for raw materials to surge, transforming the nation into a major energy and commodities importer.
Chinese government and industry estimates of oil and commodities reserves often differ from those in the west, which are governed by strict definitions that make clear how much of a field resources is expected to be produced over its life time.
