Chinese Economy: China's Energy Worry

For a long time, the Chinese economy is growing atfor a various number of reasons. To meet the
an outstanding pace and I think no other economygrowing demand, China is going after securing supplies
saw so much expansion in the last 10 years like thefrom oil fields from various parts of the world. At the
Chinese economy. This growth has taken China into asame time, since Chinese economy is on a ride, China
new level in the world politics. Now China is graduallycan afford to purchase oil at a slightly higher price
being recognized as a huge economic power by restthan other countries. The main concern for the policy
of the world. However, this growth means thatmakers in China now to find an alternate to oil as the
Chinese economy is consuming more and more fuelsglobal oil reserve is diminishing at a fast pace.China is
like oil, gas and coal. This matter is becoming aactively pursuing the development of alternative
growing concern not just for the Chinese economysources of energy. China has a huge reserve of coal
but for the rest of the world too. As a result of theand Chinese policy makers are now focusing on
Iraq War and destabilizing condition in Middle East themaking the best use of its coal mines. A massive
price of oil has remained a cause of concern for theinitiative has been taken to extract gas from coal. If
last 2-3 years and the growing demand for Chinesethis project can become successful then many
economy can only make matters worse.Much of theChinese cars would run with gas instead of oil. Gas
time for the last one decade Chinese GDPextracted from coal will also work as source of
experienced nearly double digit growth rate. Thisenergy for the power plants. Another option is hydro
way, Chinese economy has turned into the world'selectricity and China is aggressively pushing it. Almost
fourth largest now. If the current trend continuesall the major rivers of Asia have originated in China.
after 2-3 decades the Chinese economy will emergeHowever, this plan can face stiff resistance from
as the largest. This means that Chinese economy willother countries who are in downstream.China's worry
consume more energy in future too. The rest of thefor energy only reminds us of the fact that we have
world is looking at China now to see what thebecome too much dependent on oil and if we do not
country is doing to address this issue. China hasgive enough importance to finding alternative sources
already become the second largest importer of oil.for energy then the future is very bleak indeed not
This sounds to be astonishing because only 2just for the Chinese economy but for the world
decades ago Chinese economy hardly needed anyeconomy as a whole. The time has perhaps come for
imported oil.After the growth of Chinese GDP startedus to become desperate for developing alternative
at a double digit the demand for oil increased andsources of energy.Razib Ahmed is a freelance writer
gradually Chinese economy needed more and moreand English language teacher from Bangladesh. He
imported oil. Another reason for the increase inmainly writes about Information and Communication
demand of oil is the fact that the number of cars intechnology, International and Asian business, literature
the Chinese street is increasing in a huge pace. In theand freelance writing. Razib is also a freelance
past, China was a role model for its use of bicycles.journalist and translator with 10 years of experience
This increase in demand for oil coupled with the risingwith him.
price of oil in the world market in the last one decade