Time running out on energy goals

BEIJING - China faces a tough road to bring its energy consumption down by 20 percent, with less than a year left to reach the target set in the 11th Five-Year (2006-10) Plan, experts and policy researchers said.

The latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that by the end of 2008 China used 12.45 percent less energy for each unit of economic growth. In the first half of 2009, the energy intensity dropped 3.35 percent year on year.

China planned to reduce energy intensity by 20 percent between 2006 and 2010. Figures for the first four years are expected to be published during the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee.