The Chinese government announced a much awaited reshuffle of its energy sector, creating two new though toothless energy bodies. The overhaul stopped short of creating the speculated new energy ministry and analysts have pointed out that it will not be effective in controlling the vast energy industry. Of the two new bodies, the Energy Commission will develop national strategy and security. The other body, the Energy Bureau, will administer the sector under the powerful National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Energy analyst Adrian Loh of Merrill Lynch shared his scepticism regarding the efficacy of the new bodies and stressed that the NDRC remains the key body in charge of energy. The proposed energy ministry failed to come through as powerful energy interests such as the NDRC and energy industries in China were dead set against it1.

• 1. “China reshuffles energy sector, little change seen,” Guardian.com, March 11, 2008, at www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7374593