China consumed about 3.6 billion tons of standard coal equivalent (TCE) in 2012, and accounted for one fifth of the global energy consumption. China's energy consumption, if it increases by 200 million every year, will probably rise to eight or nine billion TCE in the future

The China International Energy Cooperation Report 2012/2013,
released in Beijing outlines China's energy development, current
problems & future international cooperation. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Said : Wu Zongxin, a professor at Tsinghua University, said in his keynote speech at an event organised to launch "The China International Energy Cooperation Report 2012/2013" in Beijing, reported China's national online news service on September 27, 2013. 

The event was jointly hosted by Renmin University of China, the Center for International Energy and Environment Strategy Studies of Renmin University (CIEESS), Energy Outlook Magazine and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

Wu Zongxin feels that China - in order to meet its energy demand and cut carbon emissions - needs to look for international energy cooperation. China has become the largest energy consumer in the world and as a result overtaken the United States as the world's top annual emitter of carbon dioxide. Approximately 70 percent of China's total energy comes from coal based resources. According to Wu, China's dependency of foreign oil has exceeded 55 percent. Natural gas currently only accounts for about five percent of China's primary energy consumption whereas Nuclear power currently accounts for only two percent of China's electricity output. The global average of Natural gas use in energy consumption is almost 24 percent whereas nuclear power accounts for 16 percent. There is mounting pressure on China for switching to clean energy sources in order to reduce carbon emissions and avoid carbon tax.

China's National Energy Administration (NEA) is responsible for formulating and implementing energy development plans and industrial policies; promoting institutional reform in the energy sector; administering energy sectors including coal, oil, natural gas, power (including nuclear power), new and renewable energy etc.