context: The readout of this meeting, the most important in terms of setting the course for 2022 in the energy sector, follows similar contours to that of CEWC (Central Economic Work Conference) in early December 2021. Decarbonisation must occur, but never at the expense of energy security.
The energy agenda in 2022 will comprise seven key tasks, said Zhang Jianhua 章建华 NEA (National Energy Administration) chief, at the 2022 National Energy Work Conference, held on 24 Dec 2021. In order, they are
- fully guaranteeing energy security
- giving full play to coal’s continuing role as the ‘ballast’ of the energy mix
- intensifying oil and gas exploration
- strengthening energy security forecasting
- accelerating green, low carbon energy development
- ‘We must first set up new systems before tearing down old ones’, said Zhang
- strengthening policy measures, like
- ‘Implementation plan for carbon peaking in the energy sector’
- ‘14th 5-year plan for a modern energy system’
- ‘Opinions on improving systems, mechanisms and policy measures for the green, low carbon energy transition’
- accelerating the substitution of conventional energy with renewables
- actively developing nuclear power
- increasing the responsiveness of the electricity system
- advancing central eco-inspections
- accelerating advances in energy scitech innovation
- key areas include
- gas turbines
- nuclear power
- renewables
- oil and gas
- energy storage
- hydrogen
- 5G
- blockchain
- key areas include
- deepening reform of systems and mechanisms
- accelerate the building of a national unified power market and system
- actively advance market-based trading in electricity
- advancing construction of spot markets
- transitioning pilot spot markets into regular, long-term operation
- promoting transmission of ancillary service costs to users
- advancing participation of renewables in market trading
- advancing pipeline network reform
- promoting law-based governance in the energy sector
- formulating Energy Law and oil reserve regulations
- revising Electricity Law, Coal Law and Renewable Energy Law
- increasing efficacy of oversight
- comprehensively expanding international energy cooperation
- cooperating with major powers, like Russia, US and EU
- advancing Belt and Road energy cooperation in a ‘high quality’ manner
- firmly promoting strict and comprehensive governance by the Party