Xinhua quoted China energy chief said that the country is under greater pressure to ensure energy supply this year as both demand and international competition for resources grows.

Mr Liu Tienan head of the National Energy Administration made the remarks when speaking at a national energy work conference that "It is always worrisome to have to sustain supply of energy and resources for a country with 1.3 billion people."

Mr Liu noted as China is facing a grim situation in energy saving and emission reduction, it is urgent to restructure the country energy use and control the gross consumption volume this year.

He said that to ensure a stable energy supply, China will optimize the layout of energy exploration, start construction of energy transmission projects and other major energy programs while boosting reserves of oil, natural gas and coal in 2012.

Mr Liu said, in 2012, the country aims to provide electricity to another 600,000 people who currently have no access to it and expand electricity access to 5 million people by 2015.

The NEA plans to add another 200 tonnes to the country coal producing capacity this year plus 70 million KW of new installed power generating capacity.

According to the NEA if the ecology is protected and people are relocated, China will start construction of hydropower projects of 20 million KW in 2012.

Once safety is ensured, nuclear power will be developed after the country new safety plan is approved.

(Sourced from Xinhua)