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Saturday, March 28, 2026
B1 Intermediate ⚡ Cached
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US Drills Less, China Uses More Coal

The United States is changing its oil drilling plans. It seems they are drilling less now. However, China is increasing its coal production. China is also storing more natural gas. This is happening because China has set a low economic growth target for next year. This target is the lowest in almost 30 years.

In the US, a key person in oil drilling has stopped drilling in North Dakota. This is because oil prices are low. It also shows a change in the country's energy goals. The demand for electricity is growing fast. This is because of AI and data centers. However, it is becoming harder to meet this demand. It takes a long time to get new gas turbines. Prices are also going up. This makes it difficult to expand the country's energy system.

China is producing more coal. They expect to produce 4.83 billion tons by 2025. This is an increase from last year. China is doing this because coal is cheaper. It also helps them feel more secure about their energy supply. At the same time, China is buying more natural gas. They plan to keep buying less in the next few years. This is because they are producing more gas themselves. They are also getting more gas from Russia.

China faces economic challenges. Their government has agreed on a growth target of 4.5 to 5 percent. This is a careful plan because of problems in the housing market. Consumer confidence is also low. However, China has a long-term plan for the next five years. This plan focuses on making China more independent. It also includes more government help for important industries like AI. These different energy plans will have a big effect on the world.

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