China Energy Outlook 2020 - Flipbook - Page 43
Primary Energy Production Trends
Coal has been and remains China’s dominant fuel in terms of primary energy production (Figure
1-23). The share of coal was highest in the 1950s and 1960s, exceeding 90% of total energy
production. After that, coal’s share slowly decreased, reaching 77% in 2000. Since 2001, with
China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, coal’s share increased and peaked at 83% in
2011-2012.
China's Total Primary Energy Production by Source
(2017-2018) (Mtce)
2017
2018 % Change
Coal
2,495
2,613
5%
Crude Oil
272
270
-1%
Natural Gas
194
207
7%
Primary Electricity
224
245
9%
Total
3,186
3,336
5%
Figure 1-23. China’s Total Primary Energy Production by Source (1950-2018)
Sources: China Energy Group, 2016;. NBS, various years (b).
Even with rapid growth in natural gas and primary electricity production (e.g., wind, solar,
nuclear) in recent years, coal production followed China’s total energy demand closely. In 2018,
the share of coal in China’s total primary energy production was 78%, followed by 8.1% crude
oil, 7.3% non-fossil electricity, and 6.2% natural gas.
In the first half of 2019, China’s coal production increased 4.3%, oil production increased 1%
and natural gas production increased 9.7% compared to the first half of 2018 (NBS, 2019b).
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