Bio-energy will account for one percent of China's renewable energy consumption by 2010, and four percent by 2020, officials with the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said on October 13.

 

Bai Jinming, an official with the science, technology and education department of the MOA, said at the launch ceremony of a project for bio-energy strategic development in rural China that bio-energy will help China meet its rising demands for energy.

 

The project was jointly launched by the Asian Development Bank and the MOA.

 

Developing bio-energy in rural China will promote the development of China's agriculture, rural areas and Chinese farmers, Bai added.

 

Bio-energy utilization has been developing rapidly in China. According to statistics, by the end of 2005, more than 18.07 million peasant households were using methane gas as fuel.

 

Further, more than 3550 bio-energy facilities produce nearly seven billion cubic meters of methane each year.

 

According to the MOA, China's installed capacity of bio-energy electricity will reach 5.5 million kilowatts (kw) by 2010, and 30 million kw by 2020.

 

The annual use of methane gas is expected to be 19 billion cubic meters by 2010, and 40 billion by 2020.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2006)