Chinese state-owned oil and gas major CNOOC sees potential for energy cooperation between China and the United States, its CEO said on Thursday, adding that the company would consider investments alongside U.S. partners in the future.
* China was a buyer of U.S. oil and gas until Beijing imposed tariffs on the products during last year’s trade war. While relations have improved since then, the tariffs remain in place and the energy trade is mostly frozen.
* During President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing in May, U.S. officials raised the possibility of energy deals, including China buying more liquefied natural gas, although nothing has so far emerged.
* “The U.S. is currently the world’s largest producer and exporter of LNG, while China is currently the largest importer of LNG — so there is actually still a lot of room for cooperation in the future,” CNOOC Ltd CEO Huang Yongzhang said, without detailing any deals.
* Speaking after the company reported half-year results, Huang also said the company would work together with partners, including in the U.S., to invest where it believes value can be created for shareholders.
* CNOOC is among several Chinese energy companies to have long-term supply deals with U.S. LNG producers. Since the tariffs were imposed, these companies are reselling the cargoes instead of paying tariffs.
(Lewis Jackson and Sam Li; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)