White paper stresses reliance on domestic power resources
China poses no threat to global energy supplies because it will continue to rely on its big coal and natural gas reserves, develop alternative sources of energy and improve efficiency, Beijing's first white paper on energy says.
Although the mainland's energy consumption is growing rapidly, the paper says, per capita energy consumption is still low, at only 75 per cent of the world average. Per capita oil consumption is half the world average, and per capita oil imports 25 per cent of the world average.
'China did not, does not and will not pose any threat to the world's energy security,' said the white paper, issued by the State Council.
Between 1980 and 2006, the mainland's energy consumption increased an average of 5.6 per cent per year, helping fuel average annual economic growth of 9.8 per cent. Mainland leaders worry that its increasing energy consumption will further damage the already battered environment and see growing reliance on imports as a threat to national economic security.
Analysts said the paper aimed to address international concerns over its increasing demand for energy.
The paper seeks to put mainland energy use in perspective, saying: 'For a long time, China has relied largely on domestic energy resources to develop its economy. The rate of self-sufficiency has been above 90 per cent, much higher than that in most developed countries.'