BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's crude oil output reached 155.19 million tonnes in the first three quarters, a year-on-year increase of 2.3 percent, according to data from the country's top economic planner.

During the January-September period, China refined 328.63 million tonnes of crude oil, up 7.4 percent year on year, while refined oil production rose 6.4 percent to 202.15 million tonnes, the National Development and Reform Commission said in an online statement.

Apparent consumption of refined oil, calculated as production plus imports minus exports, increased 4.3 percent from a year earlier to 194.84 million tonnes.

In a separate statement, the planner said natural gas output totaled 86.3 billion cubic meters in the first nine months, an increase of 9.2 percent year on year.

China's imports of natural gas saw an increase of 27.3 percent to 38.8 billion cubic meters, while the apparent consumption came in at 120.8 billion cubic meters, the commission said.

China's appetite for natural gas has grown substantially with the country's industrialization and urbanization initiatives amid government efforts to cut carbon emissions.

According to the sector's development plan, China aims to bring its natural gas supply capacity to around 176 billion cubic meters, making the energy available to 250 million people, or 18 percent of the population, by 2015.