China, the world's second-biggest oil user, plans to set up a ``high-level'' National Energy Commission to oversee security issues and develop strategy, according to a document to be discussed by lawmakers in Beijing.

The State Energy Bureau, under the National Development and Reform Commission, will have expanded responsibilities, including the nuclear power industry, according to the proposal to the legislature today by the State Council, or the Cabinet. The National Energy Leading Group, which advises the State Council, will be scrapped, according to the document.

China, the world's fastest-growing major economy, is trying to stem a growing reliance on imported fuel that accounted for almost half of its demand last year and contributed to oil prices reaching records. China will consume more energy than the U.S. by 2030, according to a June 2006 report by the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Agency.

China will ``strengthen'' its management of energy issues, Ma Fucai, deputy director of the office of the National Energy Leading Group, said in Beijing yesterday while attending sessions of the country's parliament. China's 2,987 legislators began their annual meeting on March 5.

Ma's group advises Premier Wen Jiabao and the State Council on energy issues while the reform commission, China's top economic planner, manages the drafting of policy and the pricing of fuel products. China also has a State Electricity Regulatory Commission that oversees the power industry.

China disbanded its energy ministry 15 years ago. The nation became a net crude importer in 1996, ending 32 years of self-sufficiency.

The nation's energy demand rose 7.8 percent last year to the equivalent of 2.65 billion metric tons of coal, Xu Dingming, vice director of the office of the National Energy Leading Group, said Feb. 27, citing preliminary figures. China used 1.17 tons of coal equivalent to generate each unit of GDP in 2007, he said.