China reports 9.5%. rise in total energy cost for 2005

China said Tuesday it experienced a 9.5 percent rise in total energy costs in 2005 as its economy continued to grow at a rapid rate.

Crude oil consumption rose 2.1 percent to 300 million tons as newly ascertained oil reserves came to 943 million tons, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

Coal remained the key source of energy, with consumption rising 10.6 percent to 2.14 billion tons. Natural gas, hydro-power and nuclear power consumption rose 20.6, 13.4 and 3.7 percent respectively.

China's economy surged 9.9 percent last year, the highest among the major economies in the world, driven largely by curbed but still robust investment and strong exports.

This growth, however, was gained at the price of environmental deterioration and energy shortfall, prompting the government to seek more efficient and balanced growth.

The NBS said in 2005 that energy cost of per unit gross domestic product (GDP) remained at the same level as the year before.

The economy used 400 million tons of steel and 15.61 million tons of aluminum, both up more than 20 percent. Cement consumption rose 9 percent to 1.05 billion tons.

Lost arable farmland reached 139,000 hectares, a drop of 4.1 percent.

Source: Xinhua