On January 26, following intense bidding, three coalbed methane (CBM) exploration rights—Wujiamiao Block I, Wujiamiao Block II, and Yihewusu—located in Hangjin Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, were successfully awarded to three different market entities with a total bid value of RMB 98 million.

All three CBM exploration rights are located within Hangjin Banner of Ordos City, covering a combined area of 855.94 square kilometers, and represent the city’s first batch of CBM exploration rights to be transferred through a market-oriented mechanism.

The transfer adopted an open listing process, selecting qualified entities through market-based competition and a transparent trading mechanism. This approach enables a closer alignment between resource allocation and market demand, effectively improving resource development efficiency. The transaction also represents a concrete step in implementing regional and municipal policies to strengthen CBM exploration and development, marking solid progress in promoting the deep integration of CBM development with local economic growth.

Going forward, the Ordos Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources will further implement national and regional strategic plans for unconventional natural gas development, advance the new round of breakthrough actions in mineral exploration, actively expand the supply of exploration blocks, stimulate the vitality of the mining rights market, and enhance oil and gas resource security capacity.