China sets energy use target for 2016

China aims to keep total energy consumption at around 4.34 billion tonnes of standard-coal equivalent in 2016, with non-fossil fuel consumption rising to 13 percent, the National Energy Administration said Friday.

Gas consumption will account for 6.3 percent of total energy consumption this year, and the proportion of coal consumption will fall below 63 percent, according to a guideline issued by the administration.

On the supply side, the country is expected to produce 3.6 billion tonnes of standard coal equivalent in 2016, with crude output reaching 200 million tonnes and gas output standing at 144 billion cubic meters.

The country aims to reduce energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by at least 3.4 percent year on year in 2016, according to the guideline.

The administration called for efforts to promote clean energy and emission reductions, further optimize the country's energy structure and strengthen international energy cooperation.

China plans to invest 30 billion yuan (4.62 billion U.S. dollars) in recharging-infrastructure construction in 2016 to promote the use of electric vehicles, the guideline said.

The country will build 2,000 charging stations, 100,000 public charging posts and 860,000 private charging posts in 2016.

China will also kick off a new round of rural electric power grid upgrades to improve rural residents' lives and bolster the country's economy, according to the guideline.

China's energy consumption rose 0.9 percent year on year to 4.3 billion tonnes of standard coal equivalent in 2015.

Source: XINHUA