Agency warns mainland energy needs may disrupt world market

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that the mainland's energy import policies were becoming increasingly vulnerable to external events beyond its control.

In an 83-page report released yesterday, the IEA also criticised Beijing for underestimating the level of imports it requires.

'Many people are worried about China's entry into the world energy market and the possibility that they could disrupt the world energy industry because of their increasing demand for petroleum, especially in the Middle East,' said Mehmet Ogutcu, who wrote the report.

The mainland envisages importing only 95 million tonnes of petroleum by 2010, rising to 140 million tonnes in 2020 and 440 million tonnes in 2050. In contrast, the IEA suggests import requirements could reach 200 million tonnes in 2010 and twice that in 2020.

To meet the growing import demand, the mainland has been investing in several areas around the world, from the Middle East to Central Asia and Latin America.

The IEA is concerned that if political difficulties arose, particularly in the Middle East where it has the majority of its energy relationships, Beijing could find it difficult to continue securing supply. Similarly, the mainland does not have control of the shipping lanes from Middle Eastern countries to the mainland.