China to focus on adjustments in energy structure in 2010: energy official

BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- China would put more emphasis on adjusting its energy structure this year with focus on renewable energy and nuclear power, director of China's National Energy Administration (NEA) said here Tuesday.

Zhang Guobao, also vice-minister of the National Development and Reform Commission and member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua before he attends CPPCC's annual session.

Adjusting the energy development pattern would be the top priority in NEA's blueprint for this year to fulfill China's promise at last year's Copenhagen climate summit, and more efforts would be made in scientific research and development in the field, he said.

"I'm proud to say that China is at the world's advanced level in new energy development, but there is still much room for improvement," he said.

Zhang took wind power as an example. "Compared with wind power reserves of 2.6 billion kilowatts (KW), China's installed wind power capacity stood at only 22 million KW."

Zhang also highlighted China's determination in developing nuclear power projects, 21 of which are under construction in the country. Currently China has 11 nuclear power projects in operation.

The Chinese government has voluntarily announced ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit that it would cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of the GDP by 40 percent to 45 percent by 2020 from the 2005 level, which represents reduction of roughly 1.5 billion tons of emissions.