China to replace US as top energy consumer
Friday, 16 July 2010
BEIJING, July 15 (Commodity Online): China is likely to replace the US as world's top energy consumer this year, analysts said.
China's energy consumption has seen an accelerated growth since 2000. If that pace continues, the country would consume nearly 8 billion tonnes of coal equivalent in 2020, over half of the world's current total energy use, they said.
China's energy consumption is expected to account for over 30 per cent of the global figure in 2020 even if it reduces energy intensity by 20 per cent every five years from now.
China pledged to reduce its energy intensity by 20 per cent in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2005-2010).
China's energy intensity fell 14.38 per cent from 2006 to 2009. However, the figure rose 3.2 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter, signalling the need to cut energy intensity for the rest of the year.
However, China's consumption growth in the second half of the year is likely to slow down as the country is planning tough measures against energy-intensive industries.
According to China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country is considering measures like capping electricity supplies in some sectors, and ending subsidies provided to energy-intensive industries, to achieve the targeted 20 per cent reduction in energy intensity between 2005 and 2010.
Analysts said these moves will certainly improve the nation's energy efficiency but needs to consider market-based measures to make energy conservation more reasonable and sustainable.
China's energy consumption has seen an accelerated growth since 2000. If that pace continues, the country would consume nearly 8 billion tonnes of coal equivalent in 2020, over half of the world's current total energy use, they said.
China's energy consumption is expected to account for over 30 per cent of the global figure in 2020 even if it reduces energy intensity by 20 per cent every five years from now.
China pledged to reduce its energy intensity by 20 per cent in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2005-2010).
China's energy intensity fell 14.38 per cent from 2006 to 2009. However, the figure rose 3.2 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter, signalling the need to cut energy intensity for the rest of the year.
However, China's consumption growth in the second half of the year is likely to slow down as the country is planning tough measures against energy-intensive industries.
According to China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country is considering measures like capping electricity supplies in some sectors, and ending subsidies provided to energy-intensive industries, to achieve the targeted 20 per cent reduction in energy intensity between 2005 and 2010.
Analysts said these moves will certainly improve the nation's energy efficiency but needs to consider market-based measures to make energy conservation more reasonable and sustainable.