China's rocketing power installation upsurge will provide the country an opportunity to adjust its power construction instead of oversupply, a senior official said in Beijing yesterday.

China's power installation reached 500 million kilowatts by the end of 2005 with an additional 140 million kilowatts under construction. The total capacity would exceed 750 million kilowatts by 2010, official figures showed.

Although seasonal, interim and regional oversupply may occur, the supply increase gives the country a chance to wipe out its polluted and inefficient power stations, which account for 12 to 14 percent of the total, Wang Yonggan, secretary-general of China Electricity Council (CEC), told a forum.

Small-sized oil-powered stations, such as the ones scattered in southern Guangdong province, should be shut down gradually, he added.

China should also invest more in power grids, which make up only less than 40 percent of the total power investment. It should particularly focus on enhancing inter-regional, inter-provincial and urban grids as well as developing a rural grid and improving its power-distributing capability, he acknowledged.

China's power installation capability rose by 66 million kilowatts in 2005, of which thermal power went up 54.65 million kilowatts and hydro power went up 11.3 million kilowatts, mainly located in power-hungry places in China's east, north and south.

(Xinhua News Agency February 20, 2006)