Energy consumption keeps increasing along with rapid economic
growth and although China over the last 20 years has successfully
met half its energy needs through development and the other half
through conservation, its energy conservation is still below the
world average. On the whole, China's pattern of extensive economic
development with high rates of growth, of energy consumption and of
pollution remains unchanged.
Statistics reveal that energy consumption was 4.1 percent higher
than that of the GDP in 2004, and there are severe coal and
electricity shortages in many places resulting from multiplied
investment in iron and steel, cement, electrolytic aluminum, and
real estate.??
China's Medium and Long-Term Energy Development Program for
2004-2020 prioritizes energy conservation, and adjustment and
optimization of the energy structure. The Law on Renewable Energy
Development and Utilization, originally slated to become law after
2005, went to the NPC Standing Committee for approval in December
2004.
China's first Medium and Long-Term Energy Conservation Plan was
published at the end of 2004. This lays down specific regulations
for indices of energy consumption, covering thermal power
generation, electricity supply and coal consumption, for major
products. By 2010, these indices as a whole will reach or approach
the international advanced level of the early 1990s. By 2016 the
energy efficiency of important energy-consuming equipment, such as
the coal-fueled industrial boiler, must reach or approach
international advanced level. The indices of some automobiles,
electro-motors and household appliances should also be up to the
international advanced level by 2010.