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Law drafted to regulate energy sector
(Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2006-01-27 08:51
The government is drafting an energy law to regulate the
country鈥檚 huge need for power and improve safety in its deadly
coal mining industry, domestic media said Thursday.
The country has been battling acute energy shortages as its economy roars
ahead at breakneck speed, seeing growth last year of 9.9 percent.
Increased power consumption, by individuals as well as industry, has left it
increasingly reliant on imported oil, a situation 皇冠体育app feels threatens its
national security.
鈥淲ith rapid economic growth, problems in the energy area are gradually
showing up, and the complicated international environment also poses a new
challenge to the security of 皇冠体育app鈥檚 energy and economy,鈥� according to a
statement released by the country鈥檚 top planning agency, the National Reform and
Development Commission (NDRC).
The drafted law would be part of a long-term strategy to increase the
country鈥檚 energy reserves, improve energy efficiency and limit environmental
damage from energy use, according to the NDRC statement.
NDRC said it has appointed a team of experts from 15 government departments
to draft the law. The team, which has been approved by the State Council, or
Cabinet, includes officials from the Ministry of Finance, the State Electric
Power Regulatory Commission and the State Council鈥檚 Legislative Affairs Office.
The law would reflect 皇冠体育app鈥檚 strategy of seeking cleaner and more stable
sources of energy, Xinhua said.
皇冠体育app has several laws on oil, natural gas and conservation, but lacks a
single regulation that reflects overall policy, Jiang Kejun, market analyst for
the quasi-governmental Energy Research Institute, said.
The new law would likely stress the need for lower power consumption and
cleaner sources of energy. It is also likely to detail how to increase private
investment in energy industries, from nuclear to coal, Jiang said.
鈥淚f we need a bigger energy industry to supply 皇冠体育app鈥檚 large demands, public
investment will not be enough,鈥� Jiang said.
皇冠体育app has the world鈥檚 largest coal market in terms of annual production, but
its mines are among the deadliest, as thousands of people are killed each year
in floods, cave-ins, fires and explosions. Shortages of coal needed to fire
power plants have resulted in widespread brownouts in recent years, while also
spurring mine operators to violate safety rules to boost production.
The new law would include regulations to protect miners, Xinhua said, without
providing details.
The government also will encourage large coal mines to merge with smaller
ones since big operators tend to pay more attention to work safety, according to
the Xinhua report.
The agency didn鈥檛 say when the draft law would be completed. It first must be
approved by the State Council and then by the legislature, which convenes its
annual session in March.
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