BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China's energy demand will mainly be met by its domestic supply which has great potential, a senior Chinese economic planner said on Wednesday.

    "China still has great potential in its domestic supply," said Zhang Guobao, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission(SDRC), China's main planning body.

    He made the statement at the ongoing international seminar "Energy Security: China and the world", which was attended by officials, experts and businessmen from 17 countries.

    China has abundant coal resources, with the proved amount accounting for a small percent of the total reserve, Zhang said. "Thus, coal will still constitute the basis of China's energy."

    Saying China's crude oil production will likely remain at about 180 to 200 million tons per year for years to come, Zhang said there is "the possibility of discovering new oil and gas fields."

    He also stressed the potential of China's hydropower, nuclear power, wind power and other new resources.

    Citing the research of energy experts, Zhang said "China's energy demand will keep rising, and it will mainly be satisfied by the domestic supply."

    "In terms of energy consumption, China does not depend heavily on the international market, so it is unnecessary to overreact to increases in China's energy consumption," Zhang said.

    With the international price of oil at a high level, China will "not increase its oil reserve by purchasing additional crude oil on the international market," he said. Enditem