According to Lu, while China is advancing in its green transition, fossil fuels will continue to play a critical role in ensuring energy security in the near term.

　　The country's fossil energy output is expected to grow steadily in 2025, with oil consumption approaching its peak, he said.

　　In the future, as China shifts toward a more balanced energy structure, coal, oil and natural gas will continue to play an essential role alongside non-fossil fuels, said Lu.

　　According to the institute, by 2025, China's total energy production is expected to reach approximately 5.26 billion tons of standard coal equivalent, with a slight increase in energy self-sufficiency to 84.7 percent, a 0.1 percentage point improvement from 2024.

　　At the same time, China's oil and gas companies will continue to invest heavily in exploration and development. In 2025, the country's oil production is expected to remain steady at around 200 million tons, while natural gas output is expected to continue growing by more than 10 billion cubic meters annually.

　　Technological innovation will be crucial to driving efficiency gains, with digital tools and automation playing a key role in boosting production and managing resources, it said.