Anti-corruption moves 'good for sector'

The nation's anti-corruption campaign in the energy sector will lead to a more transparent and efficient market, which will benefit the development of the industry, said Adnan Z. Amin, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency on Monday.

At the launch in Beijing of the agency's report titled Renewable Energy Prospects: China, he said that the development of any market requires two essential elements - transparency and efficiency.

"China needs to further open the market for clean energy to boost its development," said Amin.

Shi Lishan, director of the new energy and renewable energy department at China's National Energy Administration, said renewable energy is the choice of the future when it comes to the structure of energy consumption. However, challenges persist.

To date, at least five senior officials from the NEA, the top energy planner, have been detained for questioning regarding corruption investigations. The five worked in departments including power, renewable energy, coal and planning.

As the NEA has the authority to approve projects and draft subsidy policies for the renewable energy sector, there are ample opportunities for possible corruption.

President Xi Jinping unleashed a wide-ranging anti-corruption drive in 2013 and vowed to target powerful "tigers" as well as lowly "flies".

The energy sector became the focus of the drive this year.

Wei Pengyuan, deputy director of the NEA's coal department, was found earlier this month to have more than 200 million yuan ($32.6 million) in cash stashed in his home.

Wu Xinxiong, head of the NEA, said on Oct 30 that "power and risk coexist" and stricter supervision is needed to prevent corruption.