Energy security situation complicated in China
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-28 08:42

China is currently facing a complicated energy security situation, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan saidon Tuesday while making a report on current energy security issues to China's top legislature.

Zeng summed up current energy issues in China as follows: the demand for energy has outstripped supply; resource shortages restrict energy production; outdated energy development technologies undermine improvements to the energy supply; changes in the international energy market are having more impact on the domestic energy market.

"To solve these issues, we should economize energy and resources, diversify energy sources and do our best to be self-sufficient," said Zeng.

He said: "Our aim for 2010 should be to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent, compared with the 2005 figure."

He said the domestic energy supply should be improved to ensure energy security. This implied putting the optimization of the energy supply structure at the top of the agenda. By 2020, renewable energy sources should account for 15 percent of the country's total energy supply. Currently, the figure is only seven percent.