China's installed capacity of hydropower is expected to hit 300 million kilowatts in 2020, said the country's water resources minister Chen Lei on Saturday.

Chen made the remarks when attending a hydropower forum here in Beijing, saying hydropower will play a more important role in China's energy safety strategy in the future.

He said China's water resources technology developed fast in recent years, with some of the technologies catching up with advanced levels in the world. The development potential was also very huge.

According to Chen, China has more sufficient water resources reserves compared with other countries. By the end of 2008, the nation's installed capacity of hydropower was 172 million kw, the biggest in the world.

Statistics shows hydropower accounts for 20 percent of the power supply worldwide, and in 24 countries it makes up more than 90 percent of the electric supply.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2009)