China's energy consumption growth rate reduced from 15.5 percent in 2004 to 9.5 percent last year, while the country maintained a 9.9 percent economic growth rate in 2005.

A joint press conference held here Friday by British BP, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Bureau of Statistics said China has become the world's biggest coal producer and consumer in 2004 after it successfully solved the problem of insufficient supply of coal used for generating electricity.

Last year, China's coal consumption grew 10.9 percent, which was relatively low compared to the 14.4 percent growth rate in 2004.

China is also the world's biggest hydropower producer, said a press release of the conference.

In 2005, the global hydropower production grew 4.2 percent mainly thanks to the strong growth of China's hydropower production.