China's energy crisis to raise oil prices: experts

China's energy consumption exacerbated by coal shipment delays on its overtaxed railways will continue to drive up global crude and natural gas prices and put China in competition with Western countries for Middle East oil, the WSJ quoted energy experts as saying. Heavy industries are resorting to diesel-backed generators as coal shipments to power plants face delays. China's oil imports, which increased 72% in the last two years, will continue as China builds more power plants and begins to hedge against supply disruptions by building its petroleum reserves.