Energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP)
value in China dropped for the first time in three years from the
third quarter of 2006, said the central economic planning body.
"The government's efforts to reduce energy consumption produced
relatively good results but they were still far from the original
target," said Han Yongwen, secretary general of the National
Development and Reform Commission, during an online interview on
Tuesday. He didn't disclose the specific margin of energy
reduction.
Amid mounting concern over energy demand and environmental
pollution brought about by high consumption the government planned
to cut energy use per unit of GDP value by 20 percent from 2006 to
2010 and by 4 percent in 2006.
However, the energy consumption per unit of GDP rose 0.8 percent
instead of declining in the first half of 2006 and leaves the
government an even more difficult task.
Han attributed the rise to the high proportion of heavy industry
in the economic structure, the design of economic growth relying on
scale and a time-lapse between policies being agreed and the
difference they can make.
The government has set energy saving and pollution reduction as
its primary tasks in restructuring the national economy after the
central economic work conference held last December. "We'll make
utmost efforts with utmost determination to ensure the targets are
met," said Han.
(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2007)