Analysis-Shale gas boom takes time to spark (4)

The lack of technological expertise also hinders China's ambition of putting shale gas into the market. Chinese extractors can operate drilling and fracturing by themselves, but still rely on foreign companies on some procedures like microearthquake monitoring, said Yang. The firm has the biggest installed capacity of natural-gas-powered electricity in China.

Though the production of the alternative fuel is still in its infancy, the Chinese government and enterprises are poised to accelerate the arrival of a shale gas boom that many believe will reshape the country's future energy supply.

Eight-three companies, of which one third are private firms, participated in the second auction last month, bidding for 20 shale gas blocks. But in the first round, only two blocks were involved and six state-owned companies invited.

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