Category:[world] [CHINA] [National]

BEIJING -- Li Tieying, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, said Friday that China's energy situation is severe and current energy conservation work lags far behind China's energy conditions.

An energy shortage has become the biggest threat to the sustainable development of China's economy and society, and a threat to the economic security of the country, said Li.

Li made the remarks at the 23rd meeting of the 10th Standing Committee of the NPC.

In his report on the implementation of China's Energy Conservation Law, Li said with per capita recoverable petroleum reserves only 7.7 percent of the world average, and natural gas reserves only 7.1 percent, China faces severe energy shortages.

China may seem to have endless coal but in fact per capita reserves are only 58.6 percent of the world average, said Li.

China's recoverable reserves of coal can last for 80 years, petroleum, 15 years and natural gas, 30 years, while the world average is 230 years, 45 years and 61 years respectively, he said.

China's coal output last year reached 2.19 billion tons, double the 2000 volume but still not enough to meet national demand.

China's net oil imports increased from 76 million tons in 2000 to 143 million last year.

However, despite the inadequate energy supply, China is still using energy in non-efficient ways, said Li.

China's energy use efficiency ratio is 33 percent, 10 percentage points lower than the world average.

China accounted for 35 percent of world coal consumption in 2004 and 7.8 percent of world petroleum consumption, while producing only 4.4 percent of the world's gross domestic production.

China has seen a continuous rise in the energy needed to produce 10,000 yuan of GDP (1,250 U.S. dollars). In 2002, the figure was 1.30 tons of standard coal, in 2003 it climbed to 1.36 tons, and then to 1.43 tons in 2004.

In the first half of the year, the energy required to produce 10,000 yuan of GDP rose a further 0.8 percent, further worsening the country's energy supply situation.

The current energy consumption mode is unsustainable for China, said Li.

NPC vice-chairman condemns wasteful use of energy(Over)
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