ABSTRACT
The Chinese will remain behind in per capita energy consumption, they will show impressive progress, attaining state-of-the-art levels in some areas by the end of the century. The immediate problem is the conversion of primary energy into electric power. The power plants usually operate at 90 percent of capacity. In the critical area of energy transportation, the Chinese seem to be moving in too many directions at once: coal-mouth power plants, hydroelectric plants and nuclear power plants tied to large-capacity electricity transmission, the expansion of oil pipelines, the dieselization and electrification of railroads. In order to reach 1985 goals, the Chinese will have to increase their power capacity by more than 60,000 megawatts, or 2.3 times their 1978 capacity. Hydropower will play a large role in this projected increase, and imports of equipment and technology will be sought to make it a reality.
