China, suffering from power shortages in recent years, was expected to reach a balance of supply and demand of electricity in 2006, the president of China's main power grid company said.

"It's estimated that in 2005 the intense situation will probably begin to be relieved.... But in general, the power supply and demand is still intense," said Zhao Xizheng, president of State Grid Corp. in a prepared speech for the World Industrial and Commercial Organization's summit in Beijing.

"In 2006, the basic balance of supply and demand of power will be reached," Zhao said.

That was thanks to the Chinese Government's macroeconomic control measures, which had helped taper investment into high energy consuming industries, he said.

"According to preliminary estimates power consumption will reach the 3.092 trillion kilowatt-hour range by 2010, approximately a 6 percent annual increase on average," he said.

Domestic media previously reported that total demand for power this year will likely be in the 2.115 trillion to 2.173 trillion kilowatt-hour range, up from 1.9107 trillion kilowatt-hour a year ago.

Zhao said that by 2020 power demand would reach about 4.6 trillion kilowatt-hour.

With China's economic growth exceeding 9 percent last year and hitting 9.7 percent in the first half this year, the country has been suffering from acute energy shortages, which have resulted in blackouts and brownouts across the country.

(Shenzhen Daily September 21, 2004)