The month of May 2010 saw considerable agitation within China’s central government as the self-imposed target for energy intensity appeared to be eluding its grasp. Provisional data has shown that the nation’s energy intensity increased by 3.2% in the first quarter of the year. This rise partially offsets the decline of 14.8% from 2006 to … Continue Reading ››

In my column two months ago I examined how the gradual rise in the rate of GDP growth in the last few months of 2009 was causing a resurgence in demand for energy in China. Statistics from the first three months of 2010 confirm that China’s economy is indeed back on track with annualised GDP … Continue Reading ››

The second week of March 2010 saw representatives from about 60 countries gather in Paris for a meeting hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The topic of the conference was access to civil nuclear energy; in other words, how can those countries which have … Continue Reading ››

China is now emerging from its worst period for low economic growth since the Asian crisis in the late 1990s, and the impact on domestic and international energy markets will be significant.

The expansion of China’s GDP in 2009 was  limited to a mere 8.7%, down from 9.6% in 2008 and 13.0% in … Continue Reading ››

Over the New Year period, both Northeast Asia and Northwest Europe were experiencing winter temperatures which were substantially lower than usual. Having spent the holiday period in Beijing before travelling back the United Kingdom in early January, I was to experience the weather in both places. I was lucky in that my domestic energy supplies … Continue Reading ››

In the aftermath of the disappointing Copenhagen Climate Summit, it is worthwhile to examine whether China’s reputation has been enhanced or diminished by its actions and rhetoric.

Large, multi-lateral summit meetings rarely result in the enhancement of reputations. Even if agreements are reached, compromise will have diluted so many of the initial intentions that … Continue Reading ››

As we look forward to the Climate Change Summit to be held in Copenhagen between 7th and 18th December 2009, expectations fluctuate from week to week. Opinions vary from those which see it as an empty gesture likely to result in few commitments and little action, to those which hail the meeting as the “last … Continue Reading ››

The months of September and October saw a sudden surge in overseas investment activity by China’s national oil companies (NOCs). CNPC International obtained the right to 70% participation in the giant South Azadegan  field in Iran, with its reported reserves of 42 billion barrels. The same company also reached agreement with Iraq’s government on the … Continue Reading ››

Crises or impending crises bring out the best and the worst in individuals, groups and societies. More importantly, they highlight the strengths and weaknesses of leaders. Crises require leaders to understand and to communicate clearly the nature of the threats and of the choices facing society: the nature of the danger; the probability of the … Continue Reading ››