China's Energy Sector Continures to Grow

China's stable and clean energy supply system is running efficiently and has contributed greatly to the country's continued economic development.

After a steady recovery last year, the country's energy output is expected to continue to grow this year.

Chen Xi has more.

Zhou Xi'an, a senior official of China's National Energy Administration, has told the National Energy conference in Beijing that the country's continue growth pushed up demands for energy in 2009.

"China's macroeconomy developed fast last year and brought an increasing demand for energy. At early last year, the country's energy sector was sluggish as market demand for energy contracted both at home and aboard. However, it warmed up in the second quarter, as demands in coal, electricity and oil sectors ceased to decline."

The official added that the energy market began to boom under the massive construction of infrastructure and buildings in the third quarter of last year.

In addition, the recovery of other sectors also stimulated energy demand.

Zhou Xi'an said the energy sector also pushed forward enterprise restructuring efforts and propelled the creation of new measures for energy conservation and emission reduction amid the declining energy demand globally last year.

"By the end of last year, we had shut down thermal power generating units with capacity of over 60 million kilowatts in the country, reduced sulfur dioxide emissions by 1.2 million tons, and carbon dioxide emissions by 139 million tons."

China's macroeconomy is expected to undergo continued rapid development this year.

But he said the added energy supply may face potential pressure next year.

"It is expected that China's energy output will continue to grow next year. However, influenced by the policy, it will increase quickly at the beginning and will later slow down."

Zhou Xi'an predicted that the country's coal shortage will last through the end of the first quarter of this year, although the supply will return to normal later.

Chen Xi, CRI News.