China is to establish a leading group office for energy, and Ma Kai, minister in charge of the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC), will take the postof director, sources with the commission confirmed Friday.

The establishment of the leading office, based on the Energy Bureau of the SDRC, is coming to a close.

Since China dissolved the Ministry of Energy in 1993, there has been a need for an authoritative institution to make energy policy and plan of the country.

The move to establish the leading group office for energy will strengthen China's ability to make uniform plan in the energy field, said an analyst in the industry.

With the rapid development of the economy, China has become the second largest consumer in the world with an energy consumption covering 11 percent of the world and over 40 percent crude oil exported from overseas in 2004.