China issues white paper on energy policy

China on Wednesday issued the 2012 edition of white paper on its energy policy to elaborate its policies on energy development, conservation and renewable energy promotion.

The white paper, titled "China's Energy Policy 2012," was released by the Information Office of the State Council, or China's Cabinet.

During the 1981-2011 period, China's energy consumption increased by 5.82 percent annually, underpinning the 10 percent annual growth of the national economy, said the white paper.

China has built up a comprehensive energy supply system comprising coal, electricity, petroleum, natural gas, and new and renewable energy resources, according to the white paper.

Its universal energy service and civil energy use conditions have markedly improved since China adopted the policy of reform and opening up in the late 1970s, it said.

In 2011, China's output of primary energy has equaled 3.18 billion tonnes of standard coal, ranking first in the world. Of this, raw coal reached 3.52 billion tonnes; crude oil, 200 million tonnes; and refined oil products, 270 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, the output of natural gas has ballooned to 103.1 billion cubic meters. The installed electricity generating capacity reached 1.06 billion kw, and the annual output of electricity was 4.7 trillion kwh.