China's hydropower resources tops world (Xinhua) Updated: 2004-05-30 09:36
China's exploitable hydroelectric resources stands at 378 million kilowatts,
equivalent to annual power supply of 1.92 trillion kwh, topping the world and
making up 16.7 percent of the world's total, a seminar was told earlier this
week.
Addressing an international seminar on hydropower, Suo Lisheng, vice-minister
of water resources, said the exploitable hydropower is equivalent to 50.7
billion tons of standard coal.
Describing hydropower resources as the country's only renewable energy that
could be tapped on a large scale, the official said China's overall generating
capacity of hydroelectric power plants reached 92.17 million kilowatts by the
end of 2003, about 24 percent of the country's total power generating capacity.
China's hydroelectric output totaled 283 billion kwh last year, 15 percent of
the country's total power output.
China has been increasing investment in hydroelectric projects as part of its
sustainable growth strategy to reduce pollution. Coal remains the country's
primary source of energy, causing serious air pollution throughout the country,
including acid rain.