URUMQI, Dec. 24 -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has produced more than 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas this year, ranking second in the country following Shaanxi Province.

According to the latest statistics from the region's four major gas producers, the Karamay, Tarim, Tuha and Tahe oil fields had yielded 30.05 billion cubic meters of natural gas this year as of Wednesday.

Boasting three major gas-rich basins -- Tarim, Junggar and Tuha -- Xinjiang began developing its gas exploitation industry in 2004 after a large project started bringing gas from Xinjiang to China's booming eastern regions.

Its annual natural gas output increased to 29.6 billion cubic meters last year, accounting for 22.7 percent of the country's total output, from only 5.7 billion cubic meters in 2004.

The increase in Xinjiang's gas output has also boosted the development of China's natural gas industry and clean energy use in the region. Natural gas consumption per capita in Xinjiang reached 240 cubic meters last year, which is 1.7 times the national average.

Xinjiang has huge potential in oil and gas exploration and production. Resource assessment shows the region has 14 trillion cubic meters of natural gas and 22.8 billion tonnes of oil.