BEIJING - China used 14.9 billion cubic meters of natural gas in February, up 10.1 percent year on year, according to a report from the National Development and Reform Commission.

Domestic output jumped 8.3 percent year on year to 10.3 billion cubic meters in February and imports rose 2.8 percent to 4.1 billion cubic meters, according to the report.

There has been a surge in demand for natural gas in China as the government promotes the use of clean energy to reduce dependence on coal, following heavy air pollution in the country since early 2013.

In the first two months, the country used 31.9 billion cubic meters of natural gas, rising 7.3 percent from the same period last year.

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