China's dependency on imported natural gas is expected to surge almost 19 percent this year as the nation's battle against air pollution drives up demand for the clean-burning fuel.

The nation's reliance on overseas gas exceeded 30 percent for the first time last year, according to a report released by CNPC Economics and Technology Research Institute on Wednesday.

Dai Jiaquan, deputy head of the institute, estimated that China's GDP growth will be about 7.5 percent in 2014, which will mean a stable rate of expansion in energy use.

"The volume of imported gas experienced a marked increase last year, rising 25 percent to 53 billion cubic meters. Pipeline gas accounted for 52.8 percent or 28 billion cubic meters and liquefied natural gas accounted for the rest," said Duan Zhaofang, a natural gas expert at the institute.

Someone will suffer. And, of course, such growth is unsustainable.