Opinion

Solid refutation to IEA's analysis

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-13 15:18

Three weeks after the International Energy Agency (IEA) rushed to list China as the world's largest energy consumer, Chinese officials have come up with a solid rebuttal.

The National Energy Administration and the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday conclusively proved, using both nations' officially released data, that China's total energy consumption was in fact 200 million tons of oil equivalent less than that of the United States in 2009.

The reason why Chinese officials are determined to counter the IEA's hasty analysis is more than obvious.

Though the country's per capita energy consumption last year was only one fifth that of the US, there is just no shortage of biased critics who cry foul over China's energy appetite.

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As the world's most populous nation and a leading manufacturing workshop for global companies and consumers, it is all too natural for China's energy consumption to grow in tune with its rapid industrialization and urbanization. It is thus only a matter of time before China surpasses the US as the bigger energy user.

However, contrary to basic facts, some people have tried to portray China's ascent as a threat to the global energy pie.

Yet, for those worried about future energy security, "a new age in the history of energy" will hardly be defined by increased quest for fossil fuels by the world's most populous nation.

Instead, the bend in the world energy security road will be visible only when the international community agrees and implements wholeheartedly a deal that will cut dependence on fossil fuels, raise energy efficiency levels and promote clean energy sources.

Indeed, the more pressing task before the IEA as well as policymakers around the world will be to carefully measure how rapidly each country is moving in that direction, rather than calculating energy consumption patterns disregarding population and development trends.