Economy more energy efficient, says report
Shi Jiangtao in Beijing – Updated on Jul 15, 2008 – SCMP
Beijing has revised the mainland’s energy-efficiency figure for last year, saying the economy wasted less energy than previously calculated.
Energy usage per unit of gross domestic product was reduced 3.66 per cent – instead of the initial figure of 3.27 per cent – according to a report jointly released by the National Bureau of Statistics, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Bureau.
However, the revised figure still falls short of the national target to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 4 per cent a year by 2010, based on 2005 figures.
The report said the mainland consumed 1.16 tonnes of standard coal equivalent to produce 10,000 yuan (HK$11,440) of GDP last year, compared with 1.204 tonnes of coal equivalent in 2006 and 1.226 in 2005. The revision was made after a recent national survey in the agricultural sector, it added.
While 21 provinces and municipalities hit the 4 per cent target last year, nine provinces – including Guangdong, Guangxi , Fujian , Hunan and Xinjiang – failed.
Beijing reduced its energy consumption per unit of GDP by 6 per cent, the biggest cut on the mainland.
Hainan managed to cut its energy use by only 0.8 per cent, and the remote western province of Qinghai saw a 2.2 per cent decrease. The report did not cover Tibet , Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan.
Premier Wen Jiabao vowed at a National People’s Congress session two years ago that by 2010, the mainland would cut energy use by 20 per cent and reduce air pollution by 10 per cent, but it has failed for the past two years.