China puts tighter cap on energy use growth
Central government aims to cut consumption and reliance on imports amid higher fuel costs and worsening pollution on the mainland
Beijing aims to slow growth in energy use in a drive to contain its rising dependence on imported fuel.
The central government seeks to cap average annual growth in overall energy consumption at 4.2 per cent between 2011 and 2015, down from 6.6 per cent between 2006 and 2010, according to the 12th five-year energy development plan released yesterday by the State Council.
Its goal is to control "consumption intensity and volume" through changes to economic development designed to create an "energy-efficient society".
The rising cost of fossil fuels and pressure to cut pollution have also driven Beijing to raise the target for non-fossil fuels' share of total energy consumption to 11.4 per cent in 2015 from 8.6 per cent in 2011.
The government wants to see a 16 per cent drop in energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product over the period.
The overall energy development plan came after five-year plans were released for the coal industry in March last year, for the wind and solar sectors in September and for the natural gas industry last month.
"Given it's now already 2013, the late release implies debates over development targets for various types of clean energy," said Peter Yao, BOC International's head of utilities and renewable energy research.