Global Times: Strong Growth Needed in Nuclear, Renewable Sources in China

To reduce the proportion of coal in China's fuel mix, extraordinarily strong growth will be needed in the nuclear energy, renewables and natural gas segments, Spencer Dale, British oil giant BP's group chief economist, said in Beijing on Tuesday.

Dale made the remark at a press event to introduce the 2016 edition of the BP Energy Outlook 2035, which sets out BP's view of the most likely developments in global energy markets based on its analysis.

Slowing economic growth and the pursuit of the quality of growth will cause China's energy consumption growth to slow. Growth in the nation's energy demand is expected to average 2 percent a year over the next 20 years, compared with around 8 percent over the past 15 years, according to the BP energy outlook.

By 2035, China, the world's largest energy consumer, will account for 26 percent of total global energy consumption.

Globally, natural gas will see the fastest growth among fossil fuels, in part due to its ample supply and in part helped by governments encouraging the shift from coal to cleaner energy sources. Growth in natural gas will come from conventional gas and shale gas, the outlook said. MORE