China's energy demand growth expected to ease in Q4

BEIJING - Energy demand growth in China in the fourth quarter is expected to slow as governments step up efforts to save energy and cut emissions, National Energy Administration official Wang Siqiang said Monday.

Growth in energy demand eased in the third quarter on government curbs, Wang noted.

Growth in coal imports will slow in the fourth quarter as China's appetite for coal has shrank and supply will be plentiful during the period, he said.

China will import 120 million tonnes of coal this year, up 16 percent year on year, he estimated.

He also forecast China to produce 200 million tonnes of crude oil and 95 billion cubic meters of natural gas this year.

Total power generating capacity will be 950 million kilowatts by the end of the year, with wind-power capacity at 35 million kilowatts and solar-power at 600,000 kilowatts, Wang added.