China plans to restructure administration of energy sector

Beijing, China (4E) – China is set to restructure the National Energy Administration (NEA) as the government seeks to to streamline the energy sector’s administrative and regulatory system, according to State Councilor Ma Kai’s report to the annual session of parliament Sunday.

In Ma’s report on the institutional reform of the State Council, the new NEA will incorporate the State Electricity Regulatory Commission’s functions since it will soon be dissolved.

Ma added that the top priorities of the consolidated agency would include regulating the sector, drafting and implementing energy development strategies and advising on energy system reform.

The changes are seen to allow Xi Jinping, who is expected to be the country’s next president this week, exercise greater control over crucial economic sectors following the country’s slowest economic growth since 1999.

Based on the agenda of the annual meetings, the National People’s Congress (NPC) will approve the plan on March 14, the same day that Xi is expected to be named as the country’s president, which will wrap up the once-a-decade leadership change process.

Last week, outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao set the economic-growth target for this year at 7.5 percent, keeping it unchanged from last year when the economy grew at a slower rate of 7.8 percent.

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