A senior minister told a 2005
Fortune Global Forum panel in Beijing on Tuesday afternoon that
China is seeking measures to solve domestic demand for energy, and
constitutes no threat to the rest of the world.
"People usually regard China as an energy-consuming nation, but
forget China is also an energy-producing nation," said Ma Kai,
minister of the National Development and Reform Commission; China
has abundant coal reserves that account for 76 percent of energy
produced.
"Energy consumption is a result of industrialization," Ma said,
emphasizing that in recent years, the government has gone to great
lengths to optimize the country's energy structure, particularly in
trying to lessen its reliance on oil. Last year, over 100 million
tons of crude oil were imported.
Linda Cock, executive director of Royal Dutch/Shell Group, said
"the Chinese government is now conscious of the importance of a
diversified energy structure. It continues exploitation of domestic
gas and will raise its proportion of natural gas from 3 to 10
percent."
She said there was still room for change, as natural gas
constitutes 20 to 30 percent of energy used in some developed
countries. Nuclear energy has also lagged behind, producing only 1
percent, whereas that in OECD nations is 10 percent, and the
worldwide average is 17 percent.
"About 20 to 25 nuclear power stations are needed in China," she
forecast, expressing hope for further cooperation.
William McDonough, chairman of China-US Center for Sustainable
Development, laid more emphasis on solar energy.
"The whole world is now investing heavily in solar energy. China
has abundant resources of solar power and its development will
accelerate in the future," he said.
The Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress
(NPC),
the top legislature, has passed legislation on renewable resources
to facilitate relevant research and development.
During the panel discussion, Cock warned that China's
utilization of energy is very inefficient and urged for better use
of resources.
Ma conceded that this was the case, and pledged to improve it
through economic structural adjustment.
Over 70 percent of energy resources are used in industry.
Industries like coking in particular consume a lot of energy and
generate a large amount of pollution.
Ma said that measures are being planned to deal with these
problems, through technical renovation, modifying scales of
operation and using energy-consumption indicators as well as fiscal
measures.
Other participants on the panel were Anne Lauvergeon,
chairperson of the executive board of Areva, and Chen Tonghai,
president of Sinopec.
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Tang Fuchun, May 18, 2005)