A New Chinese Giant Energy Company: The Merger between Shenhua and Guodian
At the end of August 2017, China’s government ended months of speculation by approving the merger between two large state-owned energy companies: the Shenhua Group and the China Guodian Corporation. Shenhua is a major coal-mining company that … Continue Reading ››
Nuclear fusion – on the way or false hope?
The last two years have seen a number of projects reporting “significant” progress being made towards the goal of developing nuclear fusion energy. This form of energy replicates the processes that drive … Continue Reading ››
China’s massive investments in renewable energy
In early January 2017, China’s government announced a 2.5 trillion RMB (US$ 360 billion) investment programme in renewable energy as part of its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). This marks a continuation of the twin strategies of boosting the share of non-fossil fuel in … Continue Reading ››
Coal consumption in China: where is it heading?
Coal continues to be the bugbear of China's energy sector. When China’s current leadership took office in late 2012, they laid out a number of key policy priorities directly relevant to the energy sector. These included the broad goals of requiring … Continue Reading ››
The United Kingdom government’s decision in September 2016 to give final approval for Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant gives a boost not only to the future of nuclear energy in the UK, but also to China’s ambitions of becoming a major exporter of nuclear technology. China is … Continue Reading ››
China presses ahead with nuclear energy, but challenges remain
Whilst the expansion of nuclear energy capacity has largely stalled in Europe, the USA and Japan, China is one of the few countries to be adding to existing capacity and has the world’s largest fleet of new plants. Total … Continue Reading ››
China-Iran energy relations after the lifting of UN sanctions
Whilst Xi Jinping’s trip to Iran in January 2016 had great diplomatic significance, the primary objective was economic, and energy will have featured prominently among the many deals signed. This should pave the way for more inward investment … Continue Reading ››
The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) was identified as a “Flagship Programme” within the ASEAN Vision 2020 as early as 1997, and was a key component of the first ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) for the period 1999–2004. Progress in constructing the … Continue Reading ››
Reform of China’s oil industry at a time of low prices
Economic reform is high on the national agenda, at least according to the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held more than two years ago in November 2013. Specific proposals included, among … Continue Reading ››
What might the G20 under China’s Presidency deliver for global energy governance?
Philip Andrews-Speed and Xunpeng Shi
Synopsis
The prevailing architecture of global energy governance is fragmented, uncoordinated and, failing to yield the required outcomes. This brief examines the argument that the G20 can provide a leadership role to improve the quality of global energy governance. Given that … Continue Reading ››
International energy and resources policy, with a focus on China
A New Chinese Giant Energy Company: The Merger between Shenhua and Guodian
At the end of August 2017, China’s government ended months of speculation by approving the merger between two large state-owned energy companies: the Shenhua Group and the China Guodian Corporation. Shenhua is a major coal-mining company that … Continue Reading ››
Nuclear fusion – on the way or false hope?
The last two years have seen a number of projects reporting “significant” progress being made towards the goal of developing nuclear fusion energy. This form of energy replicates the processes that drive … 
China’s massive investments in renewable energy
In early January 2017, China’s government announced a 2.5 trillion RMB (US$ 360 billion) investment programme in renewable energy as part of its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). This marks a continuation of the twin strategies of boosting the share of non-fossil fuel in … 
Coal consumption in China: where is it heading?
Coal continues to be the bugbear of China's energy sector. When China’s current leadership took office in late 2012, they laid out a number of key policy priorities directly relevant to the energy sector. These included the broad goals of requiring … 
The United Kingdom government’s decision in September 2016 to give final approval for Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant gives a boost not only to the future of nuclear energy in the UK, but also to China’s ambitions of becoming a major exporter of nuclear technology. China is … 
China presses ahead with nuclear energy, but challenges remain
Whilst the expansion of nuclear energy capacity has largely stalled in Europe, the USA and Japan, China is one of the few countries to be adding to existing capacity and has the world’s largest fleet of new plants. Total … 
Reform of China’s oil industry at a time of low prices
Economic reform is high on the national agenda, at least according to the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held more than two years ago in November 2013. Specific proposals included, among …