China's power consumption expected to grow 7 % in 2010
China's power consumption would rise 7 % this year if the country could maintain an 8-% growth of economy, Wang
Xudong, chief of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC), said.
Because the economy would continue to improve this year, the power consumption is expected to steadily increase to
3.9 tn kWh, a rise of 7 % from last year, Wang said at a meeting of the SERC.
Despite a slump in the first half of last year due to global economic downturn, China's power consumption totalled
3.66 tn kWh last year, up 6.44 % year on year. However, Wang warned that some regions would likely suffer from
seasonal power supply shortage this year as uncertainties remain in coal supply, coal price, transportation and
weather.
China would step up the development of new energy and the construction of energy bases, including the development of
coal, hydro and wind power in northern and western China and nuclear power in central and eastern regions, he said.
