Home / English Column / Business (new) / Photo news Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
China's Oil Consumption, Imports Decreased in 2005
Adjust font size:

China's oil consumption and dependence on imports decreased last year as a result of the government's energy-saving efforts.

 

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said recently that China's dependence on oil imports was 42.9 percent in 2005, 2.2 percentage points lower than in 2004. It also said China consumed 318 million tons of oil last year, 1.08 million tons less than in 2004.

 

"The government's effort at building a resource- and energy-saving society has paid off," a commission spokesman said.

 

Lin Yueqin, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, attributed the decreased oil consumption and imports to soaring prices. "High oil prices forced users to consider saving measures, causing less imported oil."

 

Prices soared to a high of more than US$70 a barrel last year.

 

The State Council Development Research Centre, the highest think tank of the central government, forecast that domestic oil output would reach 184 million tons this year, which means that 44 percent of China's oil demand will come from importation.

 

Pan Derun, deputy president of China Oil and Chemical Industry Association, said China would try to double its oil supply to meet its goal of quadrupling its economy by 2020.

 

Zhang Guobao, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, said China satisfies 94 percent of its energy needs.

 

"Most people are not aware that China is also a big energy exporter," Zhang said.

 

Besides coal, China is also the top coke exporter in the world, supplying 56 percent of the world's total demand in 2004.

 

Nearly 67 percent of China's energy need is met by coal. The ratio of oil in its energy consumption structure is about 24 per cent.

 

In addition, statistics indicated that the oil import volume of China, with a population of 1.3 billion, was 117 million tons in 2004. By comparison, that of the United States was 500 million tons, Japan 200 million tons and Europe 500 million tons.

 

(China Daily February 3, 2006)

 

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read

Related Stories
China's Oil Import Growth Slows Down in 2005
Oil Import Growth Slows down in 2005
China, Saudi Arabia Sign Energy Cooperation Deal
China Pays 40.7% More for Crude Imports in 2005
PetroChina to Build Two Oil Pipelines
 
SiteMap | About Us | RSS | Newsletter | Feedback
SEARCH THIS SITE
Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved     E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-88828000 京ICP证 040089号