ABSTRACT
China's ability to sustain economic growth in the coming decades depends on its ability to increase domestic energy production, the possibility to import a larger share of world energy production, and the pace of energy efficiency improvement. In 2012, China produced 208 million tonnes of crude oil and natural gas liquids, accounting for 5 percent of the world's oil production. Uranium is a nonrenewable resource and large-scale development of nuclear industry involves serious safety, security, and pollution concerns. The renewable energies include hydro electricity, other renewable electricity, and biofuels. The US is the world's hegemonic power. In 2012, the US net energy imports as a share of world energy consumption fell to 3.1 percent. At the current trend, China should overtake the US to become the world's largest net energy importer in 2013. China's economic growth rates are projected to fall steadily from 2015 to 2050.
