China Witnesses Decline In Energy Consumption in Q1
BEIJING, May 09, 2006 -- AsiaPulse
 

    China witnessed a decline of energy consumption in the first quarter of this year as some industries made progresses in saving energy and reducing energy consumption.

    Statistics shows that the comprehensive energy consumption per ton of steel produced by 71 large and medium-sized iron and steel enterprises declined 4.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year, and the fresh water consumption plunged 21.6 per cent.

    Meanwhile, China's export of high energy-consuming products, high pollution products and resource products continued falling.

    For instance, the export of steel billet, unforged aluminum and coke dropped 68.6 per cent, 23.9 per cent and 23.4 per cent respectively.

    The growth of electricity consumption for additional one-percentage point growth of the Chinese economy also dropped to 1.09 percentage points, from 1.25 and even 1.5 percentage points in the preceding years. It is regarded as a signal that the growth of Chinese economy has set to consume less energy.

    According to the State's Development Program Outline for the 2006-2010 period, energy consumption per unit of GDP shall fall 4 per cent this year and 20 per cent in five years, and both are compulsory indicators that should be realized.

    In a bid to reach the target, the state is drawing up a complete set of assessing system, and many measures on reducing energy consumption have been implemented.

    For instance, traffic control on energy-saving and environmental friendly cars of small displacement was abolished before the end of March of this year, and energy-saving campaign is launched in 1,000 major energy-consuming enterprises, which is expected to saving 100 million tons of standard coal from 2006 to 2010.

    Although China has made a certain progress in reducing energy consumption and the tightness in the supply of coal, power, oil and transport capacity is eased moderately, it is still a long way for China to realize the targets set in the 11th Five-Year Development Program.

    (XIC)

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