China energy policy comes under microscope of Murdoch researchers

A joint research report recently released between the Asia Research Centre (ARC) and the Energy Research Institute in Beijing examines how Chinese energy policy might be affected by the broader political, social and economic developments occurring in China today.

Entitled China: Energy Policy and Natural Gas Use, the study provides an overview of current Chinese energy policy framework and objectives.

It also analyses the influence of central government on the development and direction of the national energy policy, particularly in relation to natural gas.

The far-reaching project involved researchers from the Energy Research Institute in Beijing who visited Australia last year to study the Australian gas market and policy framework.

ARC China specialists and social scientists Dr Sally Sargeson, Dr Lance Gore and Ms Celia Cornwell worked with the visitors, as did economists Dr Jian Zhang, Dr Yanrui Wu and Mr Ranald Taylor.

The team also comprised country risk specialist Usmanto Njo and Murdoch senior project manager Ms Gitte Heij.

The ARC’s Ms Celia Cornwell said the study provided Australia with an independent policy analysis of the energy market in China.

“It also offers an insight into possible scenarios for China’s energy sector in the medium term, and of the implications of China’s increasing use of natural gas,” said Ms Cornwell.

The study was funded by Australia LNG, Woodside Energy, the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources, the WA Department of Resources Development and the Northern Territory Office of Resource Development.

For copies of the study, which is available on the Web at wwwarc.murdoch.edu.au/arc/ contact Ms Del Blakeway on (08) 9360 6259.