BEIJING -- A draft energy law was tabled before lawmakers on Tuesday that is expected to improve the exploitation and utilization of energy.

The draft was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the national legislature, for deliberation.

Consisting of 69 articles in nine chapters, the draft makes stipulations on energy development in terms of exploitation and utilization, the energy market, energy reserves, emergency response and sci-tech innovation, among others.

On improving energy exploitation and utilization, the draft charts the course for energy structure adjustment, proposing efforts to prioritize renewable energies, use fossil energy in a clean and efficient way, and substitute renewables for fossil energy and low-carbon for high-carbon.

It also includes provisions on realizing clean, efficient and smart terminal energy consumption and facilitating energy development in rural areas.

China's energy development is confronted with multiple challenges related to consumption, supply, structural adjustment, energy market, reserves and sci-tech innovation.

Given this, the draft law is significant to promoting high-quality energy development and safeguarding national energy security, according to Wang Peng, executive president of an energy development institute of the North China Electric Power University.