|
12 May 2008 - China, the world's second-biggest energy consuming nation, may increase power-generating capacity by 40 per cent in three years as demand of electricity rises.
Capacity may rise to 1000 GW by the end of 2010, compared with 713 GW in 2007, Zhang Guobao, director of the energy bureau overseen by the main economic planning body, said in a speech in Beijing, reports Bloomberg.
China is adding the equivalent of Japan's power capacity to meet the needs of the world's fastest-growing major economy. The country may increase spending on power plants and grids by at least 9.3 per cent this year to about $84bn, a government official said in February.
Power producers will add at least 90 GW of new capacity this year, Zhang said in his speech at the China Hydro Power Development Forum on May 8. Power-plant capacity may reach 900 GW next year, he said.
China increased power generation by 14.44 per cent to 3.26bn MWh in 2007, narrowly outpacing the gain in demand, as the nation strains to end years of shortages, the Beijing-based China Electricity Council said in January.
Generating capacity rose 14.36 per cent as demand climbed 14.42 per cent in 2007, the group said at the time.
The energy bureau falls under the control of the National Development and Reform Commission. Japan had power-production capacity of 248 GW in 2005, according to figures from the US Energy Information Administration.
Only the US consumes more energy than China.
|