16:11 - 19.08.2026

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August 19, Fineko/abc.az. According to the Financial Times, China has built a robust energy security system over the past two decades by boosting domestic production, enhancing energy efficiency, and rapidly electrifying transport. Electric vehicles already replace about 1 million barrels of gasoline and diesel per day, a figure expected to top 4 million barrels by 2035.

Beijing has diversified its import routes through pipelines from Russia and Central Asia while accumulating over 1 billion barrels in oil reserves — enough to replace all imports for more than 100 days.

Key 2026 Metrics:

• Import Decline: In the first half of 2026, China's oil imports dropped by 1.3 million barrels per day.

• Belt and Road Investments: Green energy investments under the initiative hit a record $20.1 billion, surpassing the total for all of 2025. This surge occurred amid the US-Iran conflict and rising electricity demand driven by AI development.