Wu Xinxiong, 64, appointed China's new energy chief on Monday, will face challenges that include meeting the country's surging energy demand and advancing sluggish energy mechanism reforms.

Wu replaces 59-year-old Liu Tienan as head of the new National Energy Administration, formed last week by absorbing the State Electricity Regulatory Commission, or SERC.

The new energy chief of the world's biggest energy consumer will also serve as deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's economic planning agency.