A draft of an energy law that is expected to improve the exploitation and utilisation of energy was tabled before Chinese lawmakers on Tuesday.

For deliberation, the draft was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the national legislature.

The draft consists of 69 articles in nine chapters and stipulates energy development in terms of exploitation and utilisation, the energy market, energy reserves, emergency response, and sci-tech innovation, among other things.

On improving energy exploitation and utilisation, the draft charts the course for energy structure adjustment, proposing efforts to prioritise renewable energies and use fossil energy cleanly and efficiently.

It substitutes renewables for fossil energy and low-carbon for high-carbon.

It also includes provisions on realising clean, efficient, and smart terminal energy consumption and facilitating energy development in rural areas.

China’s energy development faces multiple challenges related to consumption, supply, structural adjustment, energy market, reserves, and sci-tech innovation.

Given this, the draft law seeks to promote high-quality energy development and safeguard national energy security.

According to Wang Peng, executive president of an energy development institute of the North China Electric Power University.

(Xinhua/NAN)