Beijing forms energy consulting committee

The government founded a new committee to research and advise on energy issues on Thursday, Xinhua Net reported (in Chinese). The group, called the National Energy Consulting Specialist Committee, will be he headed by Xu Dingming, who is also the vice director of China's top administrative body for energy affairs, the National Energy Leading Group. The new committee, which consists of 40 industrial specialists holding two-year terms, is intended to improve the country's research strength in energy-related fields and provide expert consulting on energy policies. China does not currently have a ministry of energy, although a draft of a forthcoming energy law provides for the creation of one.