China's fossil-fueled power generation in August rose to its highest level in decades
Data and records from the Statistics Bureau showed that China's fossil-fuelled electricity generation in August rose to its highest since at least 1998. This was to compensate for a fall in hydropower production to meet summer demands, according to data. The rise in demand was a result of China's most extreme summer ever, which increased air conditioning use. This shows the country's dependence on fossil fuels for the spikes in demand caused by extreme weather, even though coal's share is declining.
China's fossil fuelled power rose to an 11-month peak in July
China's fossil fuelled power generation, mainly coal, increased in July to its highest level since August 20,24, according to official data released on Friday. The record-breaking heat also pushed the power demand up to new records across a large part of China. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, fossil-fuelled electricity generation, also known as thermal power in China, and mainly generated by coal, with a small portion from natural gas was up 4.3% from a year ago to 602 billion Kilowatt-hours.
The markets bet Beijing will take action against China's overcapacity
This month, commodity prices have risen from steel to polysilicon as Chinese investors bet that Beijing will finally address overcapacity in the second largest economy of the world. The prices of nine industrial commodities, including coal, steel and polysilicon (a building block used in solar panels), alumina, and lithium carbonate, have risen by 10 to 68% over the past month, while the share prices for steelmakers, solar panel makers, and clean energy companies outpaced those for CSI 300 Index.
China's thermal output is down in H1 even though June heat is driving an increase
Official data released on Tuesday showed that China's thermal power production from fossil fuels increased in June due to higher air conditioning demands, but declined in the first half. Renewables accounted for the majority of the increase in power output. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, thermal power generation in June increased by 1.1%, to 493.9 billion Kilowatt-hours. According to the China Coal Transportation and Distribution, data for June shows that average daily thermal coal consumption rose by 1.1% in 25 provinces of China.
China's fossil fuel power generation increases in May
Official data released on Monday showed that thermal power generation, fueled primarily by coal, increased 1.2% in May compared to the same month last year. Hydropower production was also affected by a drought in some parts of China. Data suggest that China will continue to reduce its fossil-fuel consumption this year. However, fluctuations in the generation of non-fossil energy create uncertainty. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, thermal power generation in China was 461.5 billions kWh while hydropower…
China's thermal energy generation fell 2.3% on an annual basis in April
Official data released on Monday showed that thermal power generation in China fueled primarily by coal fell by 2.3% in April. It also dropped 4.1% between January and April. This is in line with the expectation that China's fossil fuelled power production could drop in 2025, for the first dip in 10 years. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that China generated 449.1 billion Kilowatt-hours last month, and 1.98 trillion in total for the year. Natural gas is also used in a few power plants, which contributes a small amount to the thermal energy generation.
China's energy administration reports that China's power consumption in January-February was up 1.3% compared to the previous year.
The National Energy Administration (NEA), which released data on Tuesday, showed that China's electricity consumption increased by a sluggish 1,3% during the first two month of the year due to an unseasonably mild winter. However, the growth rate rose to 9% in late February. According to NEA data, February's power consumption was 743.7 kWh and for the entire two-month period it was 1.56 trillion kWh. China's National Bureau of Statistics reported on Monday that China's electricity generation had fallen 1.3% in the first two month of the year.
China's carbon power will rise in 2024, surpassing expectations that coal would peak
Official data released on Friday showed that China's thermal power generation, which is mainly coal-powered, increased by 1.5% between 2024 and 2025. This was contrary to expectations, as coal generation had been expected to peak. However, growth has slowed down, reaching its lowest level in nine years, excluding years during the COVID-19 epidemic. The data revealed the difficulties in eliminating coal-fired energy while still meeting China's growing demand for electricity to power its energy-hungry industry and electrify its economy.
China will continue to implement low-carbon reforms according to the energy regulator
The energy regulator in China said that China would continue to phase out fossil fuels, and reform its electricity system. It issued a paper on Thursday listing achievements, but lacking new plans for China’s energy transition. Zhang Jianhua, the head of China's National Energy Administration, said that China will continue to reform its electric system, expand the market for spot electricity, promote green electricity trade and replace fossil fuels by renewable energy. He also called on market-oriented reforms.
China releases guidelines on green energy trading
A notice posted on the website of China's state planner said that China had issued guidelines on medium- and long term green power trading. The notice called for a market based approach. According to the joint notice issued by National Development and Reform Commission and National Energy Administration, the rule lays down a pricing mechanism whereby the green power price will be determined based on the electricity price plus price of the green certificates. The green certificates issued by NEA are tradable and represent 1…
China releases guidelines on green energy trading
A notice posted on the website of China's state planner said that China had issued guidelines on medium- and long term green power trading. The notice called for a market based approach. According to a notice jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, the rule outlines a pricing mechanism whereby the green power price will be determined based on the electricity price plus a green certificate price.
Former China Energy Chief Jailed for Life
Former head of China's National Energy Administration Nur Bekri has been sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes, China's Supreme People's Court said on Monday.The court said in a statement published on Chinese social media platform Weibo that Bekri confessed his crimes while on trial.Bekri, once one of the highest-ranking ethnic Uighur officials in China, was accused by the anti-corruption body of receiving bribes and demanding provision of luxury sedans and chauffeur services for his family members.(Reporting by Se Young Lee and Lusha Zhang; Editing by Edmund Bla
China Names CNPC Exec Top Energy Official
China's government has appointed a senior oil industry executive as the country's top energy official, state-run media China Energy News reported on Wednesday.Zhang Jianhua, president of China's largest oil and gas group CNPC, has been named director of the National Energy Administration, according to China Energy News, becoming the first oil industry executive to take that role.Zhang, 54, has spent most of his career in the refining industry, including over a…
China Oil Majors Eyeing Arctic Onshore Blocks
China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) have expressed interest in bidding for onshore oil and gas blocks in Greenland to be offered in 2021, officials from the island said on Tuesday.The Arctic island, a self-ruling part of Denmark, is shifting its oil and gas licensing strategy from offshore to onshore in an effort to generate revenues faster, they said.The next blocks to be tendered will be on the Disko Island and Nuussuaq Peninsula area of West Greenland…
China and U.S. Energy Officials Tout Cooperation, Despite Tariffs
Energy trade with China will remain strong in the long-term, officials said on Wednesday at a China-U.S. oil and gas forum in Houston, even as an escalating trade dispute hits U.S. exports of natural gas.Cooperation could be expanded and more could be done to promote trade and investment between the two countries, said Li Fanrong, China's deputy administrator for the National Energy Administration. There is effective cooperation between China and the U.S., he said.Reporting by Liz Hampton
Ice-Breaking LNG Carrier Vladimir Rusanov First Call at PetroChina LNG Jiangsu Terminal
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that the Ice-Breaking LNG Carrier "Vladimir Rusanov", which is jointly owned by MOL and China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited for the Yamal LNG project, made its first call at PetroChina LNG Jiangsu Terminal in China on 17 July.A ceremony celebrating this milestone was held on 19 July.At the end of March 2018, the vessel started transportation services for LNG produced by the Yamal LNG plant at Sabetta port in Russia. For its latest voyage…
China approves $347 mln coal mine expansion in Henan
China approved an expansion of a coal mine project owned by Shenhuo Group in Henan province to 2.4 million tonnes from current 900,000 tonnes, the National Energy Administration (NEA) said in a statement on Monday.Total investment of the expansion will reach 2.2 billion yuan ($347.4 million).Expansion is part of China's effort to ensure stable energy supplies and optimise its coal industry.($1 = 6.3331 Chinese yuan)(Reporting by Muyu Xu and Josephine Mason; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)
Cheniere Energy to Open China Office
U.S. natural gas exporter Cheniere Energy Inc is setting up an office in Beijing to help it clinch long-term supply deals with Chinese buyers, four industry sources said. Cheniere, which held extensive talks with China earlier this year, will be the first operator of a U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility to establish a presence in the country. The move follows an agreement in May between the U.S and China to boost trade under the so-called 100-day trade talks that will allow Chinese buyers to purchase long-term supplies from the U.S. directly.
China's solar power capacity doubles
China's installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity more than doubled last year, turning the country into the world's biggest producer of solar energy by capacity, the National Energy Administration (NEA) said on Saturday. Installed PV capacity rose to 77.42 gigawatts at the end of 2016, with the addition of 34.54 gigawatts over the course of the year, data from the energy agency showed. Shandong, Xinjiang, Henan were among the provinces that saw the most capacity increase…
China Offshore Oil Executive Appointed as Energy Policy Official
Li Fanrong, former president of China's offshore oil and gas specialist CNOOC Ltd, has been appointed as a deputy chief of the National Energy Administration, China National Offshore Oil Company said. Li, 52, joined the state energy firm in 1984, shortly after its establishment, with experience mostly in oil and gas exploration and development. Li became CNOOC Ltd's president in 2010. The new appointment came from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, or SASAC, according to a brief statement posted on the website of CNOOC.