China\u2019s leader stressed hydropower, ecology, and safe, orderly expansion of nuclear power
\n Beijing
\nChinese President Xi Jinping has called for accelerated planning and construction of a \u200cnew energy system to safeguard the country\u2019s energy security, weeks into the Iran war that has triggered global energy shocks.
\nThe leader of the world\u2019s second-largest economy also emphasised hydropower development and ecological protection, while urging the safe and orderly expansion of \u200bnuclear power, according to state broadcaster CCTV on Monday.
\n\u201cThe Party Central Committee has gained a profound \u200bgrasp of global energy development trends and made major decisions by advancing the new energy security strategy in depth,\u201d he said, referring to the ruling Communist Party\u2019s centre of authority.
\nXi \u200bdid not directly mention the war in his remarks cited by CCTV.
\nThe United States and Iran have been weighing \u200ba Pakistani-brokered plan that could end their five\u2011week-old conflict, even as Tehran pushed back against pressure to swiftly reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
\nRole of coal and greener energy
\nAnalysts have pointed out that China is relatively better-positioned to absorb the higher oil prices. \u200bCoal accounts for more than half of its energy mix, while it has ample oil stockpiles and \u200bimports via the Strait of Hormuz represent only around 5% of total energy consumption.
\n\u201cThe path we took in being the \u200cfirst to develop wind and solar power has now proven to be forward-looking. At the same time, coal-fired power remains the foundation of our energy system and must continue to play its supporting role,\u201d Xi said.
\nChina operates more than half of the world\u2019s coal-fired power capacity, making it the top carbon emitter, which Western-led \u200bclimate initiatives have long contended \u200bwith. The country continues to position coal power as a reliability backbone and flexible backup system, even as it accelerates renewables.
\nAlthough he underscored the role of coal in China\u2019s energy \u200bmix, the president said the country\u2014the world\u2019s largest consumer of coal\u2014must stay committed \u200bto clean, low-carbon development.
\n\u201cA greener, more diversified and resilient new energy system will provide a strong guarantee for China\u2019s energy security and economic development,\u201d CCTV said.
\nLast July, China began construction of what will be the world\u2019s largest hydropower dam on the eastern \u200brim of the Tibetan Plateau.
\nConstruction on a solar thermal power \u200bplant by China General Nuclear Power Group at an altitude of 4,550 metres in Tibet has also begun on Monday, according to \u200bstate Xinhua News Agency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
China\u2019s leader stressed hydropower, ecology, and safe, orderly expansion of nuclear power Beijing Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for accelerated planning and construction of a \u200cnew energy system to safeguard the country\u2019s energy security, weeks into the Iran war that has triggered global energy shocks. The leader of the world\u2019s second-largest economy also emphasised […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":540411,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-540396","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n