VP urges experts to seek suitable energy path

BEIJING—Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan Thursday encouraged specialists to actively submit suggestions and proposals for top leaders to make decisions on the nation’s energy development.
Zeng attended and delivered a speech at the plenum of the energy expert advisory committee under the National Energy Leading Group, which was held Thursday. He asked the specialists to make earnest research on major problems China is facing in its energy exploration and to try hard to seek an energy development path that conforms to China’s characteristics.
According to Zeng, China’s energy industry has made big strides since the country’s opening up and reform, which has strongly supported the rapid, sustained growth of the national economy. However, Zeng noted, China is experiencing accelerated industrialization and urbanization, challenged by unbalanced supply of and demand for energy, unreasonable energy structure and risks of ecological degradation in energy development. To tackle the problems, experts’ opinions and proposals are needed.
Zeng stressed that energy research should adopt an international outlook and innovative thinking, focusing on energy conservation, energy structure, energy-related science and technology, energy security and international cooperation. Global trends of energy development should be studied, and advanced technology and expertise from different countries should be used for reference, Zeng added.
The committee consist of 40 prestigious Chinese experts, providing services for the nation’s policy-making through advancing suggestions and proposals on energy strategy and major problems in energy development. The committee has six branches, involving coal, power and nuclear energy, oil and gas, renewable energy, energy conservation and energy economy. Senior law expert Ye Rongsi said Monday that 2009 would be the earliest possible date for China’s Energy Law to take effect.
Ye, deputy head of a team responsible for drafting the law, made his remarks in an interview with The Beijing News. On Monday, the National Energy Leading Group (NELG) officially published a draft of the law on its website for public comment. The draft will also be carried by selected newspapers. The public will be able to submit opinions or suggestions by mail, fax or e-mail to the NELG.
The draft stipulates that the government will establish a partially market-based energy pricing system, which will reflect supply and demand, as well as environmental costs. The draft does not, however, mention the establishment of a ministry of energy, which has been suggested by many energy experts. The public-comment period ends Feb. 1, 2008.
Since the start of 2006, China has drawn up four versions of the energy law. A draft was prepared for discussion in September by the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, National People’s Congress, local governments, companies and industry associations. The draft energy law has 15 chapters and 140 articles that define energy management, strategy, development, supply, storage and conservation.
The law will also cover energy technology, international cooperation, fiscal and tax policies, and other issues.—Xinhua