China carries out targeted poverty alleviation through energy projects: white paper

BEIJING -- Calling energy an important impetus for poverty alleviation, China has introduced major energy projects in poverty-stricken areas to facilitate energy exploitation and add new momentum to local economy, according to a white paper released on Monday.

Here are some facts and figures about the poverty reduction projects China has launched in recent years to win the war against poverty through improving energy infrastructure and services in rural areas, said the white paper titled "Energy in China's New Era" released by the State Council Information Office.

-- China has given priority to energy development projects in old revolutionary bases, ethnic minority areas, border areas and poor areas, and built power transmission bases for sending surplus clean electricity to other parts of China, contributing significantly to local economic growth.

-- In developing hydropower, China has followed a sustainable development path by ensuring smooth relocation and resettlement of residents, and by making sure those involved have the means to better themselves, so that the poor share more of the benefits of resource development.

-- China has also increased financial input and policy support for clean energy such as biomass, wind power, solar power, and hydropower in poverty-stricken areas.

-- In 2017, China completed the renovation and upgrading of rural power grids in small towns and central villages, electrified motor-pumped wells, and supplied poor villages with electricity for industrial and commercial use, benefiting 78,000 villages and 160 million rural residents.

-- In 2019, China completed a new round of rural grid transformation and upgrading, achieving a supply reliability rate of 99.8 percent and an integrated voltage qualification rate of 97.9 percent. Stable and reliable power supply services have been provided to all rural areas in China.

-- From 2013 to 2015, China allocated 24.78 billion yuan (about 3.78 billion U.S. dollars) to extend power grids to areas without electricity, benefiting some 1.55 million people. It carried out an independent solar photovoltaic power supply project, providing electricity to 1.19 million people. By the end of 2015, China had achieved full electricity coverage for its entire population.

-- Poverty alleviation through solar photovoltaic power generation is one of the top 10 targeted poverty alleviation projects in China. Since 2014, the country has formulated relevant plans, introduced fiscal, financial and pricing policies, strengthened power grid building and operation services, and promoted various solar photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects funded by the government and implemented by enterprises.

-- China has built solar photovoltaic power stations with a total capacity of 26.36 million kW for this purpose, benefiting nearly 60,000 poor villages and 4.15 million poor households.