China's coal, electricity, oil and transportation sectors will tend to have an overall balance between supply and demand in 2007, said Zhu Hongren, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission on Monday.

"China had a total stock of 144 million tons of coal at the end of last year, with 24.11 million tons to be directly provided to the country's power plants", said Zhu, adding that insufficient supplies of coal and electricity have been greatly alleviated.

"Only a few regions will be running short of coal, electricity and oil due to climate and transportation factors", said Zhu.

Transportation capacity of two railways - the Datong-Qinhuangdao Railway and the Houma-Yueshan Railway - that carry coal out of northern Shanxi Province was expanded by 70 million tons last year.

But the railway transportation capacity will still be tight in northeast, northwest and southwest regions as transportation capacity of other main railways is unlikely to increase.

Zhu also said both the domestic and foreign environments will remain favorable for China to post a stable and fast economic growth in 2007.

Source: Xinhua