China energy consumption rises slightly

BEIJING - China's energy consumption is expected to reach 4.36 billion tons of coal equivalent in 2016, up 1.4 percent year on year, an official said.

Non-fossil fuel consumption accounts for 13.3 percent of the total amount, up 1.3 percentage points year on year, as China encourages users to switch from coal and oil to cleaner fuels, Nur Bekri, director of National Energy Administration, told a conference.

The country aims to raise the ratio of non-fossil fuel consumption to 14.3 percent in 2017, while cutting the ratio of coal to around 60 percent, he added.

He also called for efforts to promote clean energy and emission reductions, optimize the country's energy structure and strengthen international energy cooperation.

China has long been promoting clean fuels and is committed to increasing investment in renewable energy.

It is currently the world's biggest country in terms of installed water, solar and wind capacity.