China Gives Priority To Energy EfficiencyChina is stepping up efforts to boost energy efficiency nationwide to ensure sustainable development of the energy sector and narrow the gap between energy supply and demand, according to today's China Electric Power News.China saved energy sources equivalent to 834 million tons of standard coal between 1981 and 1998, with the annual average rate of energy saving at 4.4 percent nationwide, the paper cited Bai Rongchun, a senior official with the State Economic and Trade Commission, as saying. In addition, the country reduced carbon dioxide emission by 250 million cubic meters during the period. The official said that enterprises may gain much better economic efficiency by saving energy and raw materials, for energy and raw materials account for about 75 percent of an enterprise's production costs on average. China will save 10 billion yuan if the national total of production costs is lowered by one percentage point, he added. The official urged all localities to work out relevant rules and regulations governing energy saving endeavors, and pay high attention to the development of energy-efficient technologies. |
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