China's total energy consumption rose 3.3% in 2018

Coal's share in the primary energy consumption declined to 59%.

According to the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics, China's total energy consumption increased by 3.3% in 2018. Coal consumption increased for the second year in a row (+1%), but its share in primary energy consumption declined to 59%, as the demand for other energy sources was higher: crude oil consumption rose by 6.5% electricity demand by 8.5% and gas consumption by nearly 18%. Overall, the share of gas, hydropower, nuclear power and wind power in total energy consumption increased to 22% in 2018, contributing to a 4% decrease in the CO2 intensity (CO2 emissions per unit of GDP).

The share of coal in China's total energy consumption has been declining since 2014 (66%). China's policy objective of reducing the proportion of coal in the domestic energy mix to below 58% by 2020 seems achievable.

This article was originally published by Enerdata.