China Increases Energy Output to Meet Olympics Demand

By Winnie Zhu

Aug. 14 (Bloomberg) -- China increased energy production last month to ensure supplies during the Olympics Games in Beijing, which last until Aug. 24.

Crude oil production rose by 5 percent, the quickest pace this year, to 16.17 million metric tons, or about 3.8 million barrels a day, the National Bureau of Statistics in Beijing said in an e-mailed statement today. Production fell just short of the record 16.18 million tons pumped in May.

Coal production rose 11 percent to 220 million tons, second only to the record of 239 million tons mined in June. Electricity generation gained 8 percent to a record 319.5 billion kilowatt-hours.

Chinese refiners have been boosting oil processing to increase fuel supplies for the Games. The 15 biggest oil refineries raised their operating rates to 88.9 percent last month from 82.4 percent in June, the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association said this week.

Crude oil processing climbed to a record 29.6 million tons, or 7.2 million barrels a day, in June, government figures show.

To contact the reporter on this story: Winnie Zhu in Shanghai at wzhu4@bloomberg.net