In the process of establishing the National Energy Administration, Tian Liang, who has long been involved in the energy sector, had not directly participated in some key experiences. As a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the General Manager of China National Coal Energy Corporation, he was once part of the preparatory group when the Ministry of Energy was set up in 1988.
According to Tian Liang, recalling the energy commission that managed energy-related affairs in the 1980s, the State Council made a decision in 1987 to reform the energy management system and established a special preparation group for the Ministry of Energy, which eventually led to its official establishment in 1988.
"Back then, Minister Huang (Huang Yicheng) proposed the 'four-in-three-three-independence' concept for the Ministry of Energy, meaning it would handle policy-making, planning, and services, while being independent from personnel, financial resources, and material assets," Tian Liang explained. This idea was not widely accepted at the time. "Most people were used to working within traditional government departments where managing people, money, and materials was the norm."
Afterward, the power system underwent reforms, and the China National Petroleum Corporation was formed in the oil industry. Similarly, the coal industry established its national headquarters. Alongside the separate nuclear industry department, the situation at that time, as described by Tian Liang, became one where each sector operated independently—whether it was electricity, oil, coal, or nuclear.
Looking back now, Tian Liang believes that the "four-in-three-three-independence" approach still offers valuable insights for today’s administrative reforms. He also pointed out that the main issue with the old Ministry of Energy was poor coordination. "With so many enterprises under one department, how could they be effectively coordinated? Without control over people, the outcome was often inefficient."
Based on past experiences, Tian Liang believes that the current setup of the National Energy Administration under the National Development and Reform Commission is more suitable. Instead of creating a new Ministry of Energy, the administration focuses on specific sectors such as coal, electricity, oil, and nuclear, which are highly independent and require specialized oversight.
According to Tian Liang, the creation of the Energy Bureau represents a positive step in energy reform. For instance, it can regulate coal mine entry standards, determine production capacity, specify mining technologies, and ensure resource recovery rates, all of which help maintain a healthy and sustainable development of the nation’s energy resources.
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Zhang Xiaoji, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Minister of External Studies at the State Council Development Research Center, noted: "The exploration of major institutional reforms is phased, but it does not stop here. How do the Energy Commission, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Energy Administration relate to each other, and what are their respective constraints?"
Wang Dacheng, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and deputy director of the Standing Committee Budget Working Committee of the National People’s Congress, suggested: "There should be a Department of Energy. The Energy Commission is merely a coordinating body without decision-making power, while the Energy Bureau is just an agency and cannot exercise full authority. Who is the Energy Bureau accountable to—the Energy Commission or the National Development and Reform Commission?"
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