China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) have jointly issued the Energy Planning Management Measures (“the Measures”), establishing a comprehensive framework to standardize, evaluate, and strengthen the nation’s energy planning process. The Measures mark an important step toward institutionalizing full-cycle management of energy planning, from design and approval to implementation and adjustment.
Strengthening the Framework for Energy Governance
Energy planning has long played a central role in shaping China’s development priorities, particularly in balancing energy security, industrial growth, and sustainability. The new Measures were introduced to address evolving challenges in the energy sector, such as integrating macro policy coordination, adapting to rapid technological shifts, and meeting national targets for carbon reduction and energy transition.
The Measures build upon earlier regulatory frameworks, including the Provincial Energy Development Planning Management Measures (2016) and the Energy Planning Management Measures (2019). These previous instruments provided a foundation for guiding five-year energy plans and regional coordination. However, with the Energy Law of the People’s Republic of China now providing explicit provisions for planning systems and procedures, the latest Measures serve to harmonize and modernize these mechanisms under a unified national standard.
Comprehensive Structure and Core Provisions
The Measures introduce a structured approach to energy planning through six chapters. They cover general provisions, preparation procedures, approval processes, implementation mechanisms, evaluation and adjustment requirements, and supplementary provisions.
Key elements include clear definitions of planning authority and hierarchy, standardized catalog management for planning projects, and uniform approval criteria. Plans must align with national strategies and undergo multi-stage evaluation, including legality, economic feasibility, and consistency with macro policy direction. By codifying these procedures, the Measures aim to enhance predictability, transparency, and accountability in energy decision-making, ensuring that new initiatives align with long-term national objectives.
Full-Cycle Management and Systematic Regulation
The Measures establish full-cycle management across all stages of the energy planning process. This includes stricter catalog management, limiting planning activities to those formally listed, and prohibiting short-term plans with implementation periods of less than three years.
In terms of planning preparation, the Measures emphasize the inclusion of foundational analysis, development goals, regional layouts, key projects, and safeguard mechanisms. Projects must comply with laws and policies, demonstrate economic viability, and align with market realities.
The approval process has also been standardized. Energy plans must now include supporting documentation such as feasibility studies, expert reviews, and macro policy assessments. Provincial-level plans are subject to consultation between the NEA and NDRC, ensuring coordination between central and local planning efforts.
Enhancing Scientific and Data-Driven Planning
Improving the scientific rigor of energy planning is a key objective of the Measures. The NEA highlights three core principles to guide this effort: scientific research, extensive consultation, and expert demonstration.
Planning must be grounded in empirical analysis and supported by data from multiple scenarios and methodologies. It must also integrate both goal-oriented and problem-oriented approaches, addressing energy security, green transition, and economic efficiency.
In addition, planning authorities are required to solicit input from a wide range of stakeholders, including government departments, enterprises, industry associations, and academic experts. This approach ensures that national and local energy plans reflect both top-down strategic guidance and bottom-up practical insights. Before approval, each plan must undergo a rigorous connection and evaluation process, aligning it with broader policy frameworks and regional development strategies.
Strengthening Implementation, Monitoring, and Adjustment
The Measures establish a robust mechanism for the execution and supervision of energy plans. Implementation effectiveness is treated as a key metric of success, as plans serve as the foundation for resource allocation, project approval, and investment guidance.
Provincial energy plans that have not been approved or that fail to meet national requirements cannot be used as a basis for project development. The NEA and its dispatched agencies will oversee implementation through dynamic monitoring, annual evaluations, and performance reviews.
To ensure flexibility, the Measures also provide clear procedures for adjusting and revising plans when necessary. Adjustments must be reviewed and approved by the original approving authority and supported by expert evaluation. This ensures that changes remain aligned with the overall structure and objectives of national energy policy.
Advancing Modern Energy Governance
The release of the Energy Planning Management Measures reflects China’s broader commitment to refining its national energy governance framework. By standardizing planning processes, enhancing data-driven decision-making, and improving interdepartmental coordination, the policy aims to create a more adaptive and resilient energy management system.
These reforms are expected to improve policy coherence, optimize the allocation of public and private investment, and accelerate progress toward China’s long-term energy security and sustainability goals. In doing so, the Measures reinforce the central role of planning as a strategic tool, not only for guiding energy development but also for supporting high-quality economic growth in the years ahead.