Chinese Prime Minister calls for increased oil and gas exploitation to cope with coal shortage
Facing the risk of severe power shortages due to coal shortages as winter approaches, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has warned of energy insecurity in the country and called for increased oil and gas exploitation.
Speaking at the fifth meeting of the National Energy Commission, China's top energy regulator, more than 10 years after its establishment on October 9, Premier Li Keqiang, who is also the head of the National Energy Commission, emphasized that energy security is related to development security and national security.
He believes that China is still a developing country, so development is the foundation and key to solving all problems. At the present stage, the industrialization and urbanization process is taking place strongly, so the demand for energy will continue to increase.
According to Li Keqiang, supply shortage is the biggest energy insecurity issue, requiring China to optimize coal production arrangements, rationally build advanced coal-fired thermal power plants based on development needs, and continue to gradually eliminate outdated coal-fired power plants.
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| China National Energy Commission Conference. Photo: Xinhua |
He also requested to strengthen domestic oil and gas exploration and exploitation, actively develop shale gas and coalbed methane, and diversify international oil and gas cooperation. Strengthen the construction of oil and gas storage capacity, promote large-scale application of advanced energy storage technology, and continuously enrich tools to ensure safe energy supply.
Mr. Li Keqiang affirmed that the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality target is a requirement for transforming and upgrading the Chinese economy, and is also a requirement for jointly responding to climate change. However, to achieve the targets in a scientific and orderly manner, it is necessary to research and develop a timetable and roadmap based on in-depth calculations, combined with the recent supply-demand conflict between electricity and coal, to avoid arbitrary power cuts and production stops or following trends, in order to ensure electricity for heating people in the North in winter, ensuring the stability of the industrial chain and supply chain as well as the stable and sustainable development of the economy.
According to the Chinese Premier, the country needs to strongly promote the use of clean coal, increase the proportion of clean energy, accelerate the transition to energy saving and emission reduction in key areas, mobilize people to save energy and enhance green development capacity.
He also called for stepping up research on key core technologies and equipment in the energy sector, strengthening research and development of advanced green and low-carbon technologies, improving the intelligence of the power grid, and reforming tiered electricity prices.
The Chinese premier's statements came after the most severe rolling blackouts in recent years swept through more than 20 provinces and cities in the country since mid- to late September. The situation was caused by insufficient coal supplies and high coal prices, with some areas in China running out of energy consumption targets as the country focuses on implementing commitments to cut emissions./.
