By Ding Qi (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-02-27 17:17

China's energy saving effort succeeded in meeting their basic goals last year, but the nation still has a long way ahead in ensuring a sustainable energy supply, a senior energy official said Wednesday.

Related readings: China's construction industry getting greener Extra energy stockpiles ensure Olympics Sustainable energy plan China's top banks lend 100 billion yuan in 2007 for green projects

Xu Dingming, vice director of the Office of National Energy Leading Group (NELG), made the remarks Wednesday at the Coal-Gen Sustainability China forum in Beijing.

He quoted primary statistics as saying that last year, China was expected to consume 2.65 billion tons of standard coal equivalent, up 7.8 percent from 2006. But consumption growth slowed by 1.81 percent year-on-year.

Energy consumption per unit of GDP was 1.1663 tons of standard coal equivalent, down 3.27 percent from 2006. That decline was 1.94 percent faster than the year before. In 2007, the country saved a notable 89.77 million tons of standard coal equivalent in energy.

According to China's 11th Five-Year Plan, it aims to cut energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20 percent from 2005 before 2010 by improving resources, utilizing efficient technology, and saving energy.

Meanwhile, the nation's energy policy moved forward last year, according to Xu.

Last December, the NELG released a draft of the first Energy Law and solicited public opinion on its website. The draft was received warmly.

"Since then, the government has listened to advice from energy experts both at home and abroad," Xu said. "Taking these opinions seriously, the NELG is now making adjustments to the draft, and will soon submit it to the State Council."

However, he warned that the energy industry should remain cool at all times and think in the long term as far as the nation's energy development strategy and energy security.

Crude oil futures at the New York market hit a fresh record high Tuesday, as the light crude contract for April delivery settled at over $100 a barrel again. Analysts said to continue to expect three digit prices, and energy prices will attract more attention worldwide.

Moreover, this month's snowstorms in southern provinces also tested the nation's energy supply system, triggering more thoughts about the consequences of massive power strain.

In China's first energy white paper last December, the government pledged to develop the coal industry in an orderly way, while exploring more renewable energy sources such as hydro, nuclear, solar and wind energy to meet the growing needs of the nation's booming economy.

However, renewable energy doesn't mean frugality can be neglected, according to Xu. Energy saving is not only a responsibility of the government, but is also a symbol of social progress and the progress of mankind in general.

He suggested that people begin to save energy in details, such as driving less and refraining from too much air-conditioning. "Good consumption habits did contribute a lot to energy saving," said Xu.

Convened by the Allied Resource Allocator (ARA), an international management service organization, the forum is part of its Asia energy dialogue series aiming to boost exchanges on sustainable energy development among power companies, experts and officials. The meeting is scheduled to last until Friday.