China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts meet press after return from space

The three astronauts from China's Shenzhou-19 crewed mission met the press on Wednesday, their first public appearance after returning to Earth in April.

The Astronaut Center of China (ACC) held the press conference in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon, in which the three astronauts, namely Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, shared their experience of the 183-day mission in space.

The Shenzhou-19 astronauts have so far completed their quarantine and recuperation stages, and have now moved to the observation stage, according to the press conference.

At present, the crew are in good physical and mental condition and the results of their various medical examinations are all normal. Their muscular strength, stamina and cardio functions have recovered to pre-space mission levels.

The three astronauts will resume normal training once they complete all recovery stages and health evaluations.

Shenzhou-19's return capsule carrying the three astronauts touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on April 30, after completing a six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station.

China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts meet press after return from space

China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts meet press after return from space

China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts meet press after return from space

China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts meet press after return from space

China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts meet press after return from space

China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts meet press after return from space

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠China's natural gas production is projected to reach 300 billion cubic meters by 2030, according to a development report released in Beijing.

The report, covering the development of China's oil and gas industry during the country's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), said proven geological reserves rose by 7 billion tons of oil and 7 trillion cubic meters of gas, up 43 percent and 40 percent respectively from the previous five-year period. Oil and gas production hit record highs.

"The oil output is likely to reach between 215 and 216 million tons this year. Natural gas has seen major growth during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), with annual domestic output rising by nearly 13 billion cubic meters. In the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), we expect annual increases of more than 10 billion cubic meters, reaching 300 billion cubic meters around 2030," said Wu Mouyuan, deputy director of the Economics and Technology Research Institute of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

The report forecast that China's energy structure will feature less coal, stable oil and gas, and rising non-fossil fuels over the next decade.

By 2060, fossil fuels are expected to account for 23 percent of the energy mix, hydropower and nuclear 19 percent, wind 25 percent, and solar 30 percent, the report said.

"In the next five years, through the integrated development of fossil energy and renewables, we will achieve a heathy, stable, and resilient energy system. Clean energy will continue to grow rapidly. More than 90 percent of renewable energy will be consumed via electricity, so the electrification at end-use sectors is a key direction of transformation in the future," said Wu.

With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and new high-energy industries, China's power demand will exceed 20 trillion kilowatt hours by 2060, double the 2025 level. Electrification at end-use sectors is expected to reach 62 percent, rising by nearly one percentage point annually, the report projected.

China to see gas output hitting 300 bcm by 2030: report