Beijing yesterday pledged it would cut the amount of energy it takes to produce one unit of GDP by 20 per cent during the 11th Five-Year (2005-10) Plan.

The city's previous goal was 15 per cent, said a top urban planner.

"Based on our calculations of energy consumption over the past three quarters of the year, and the ongoing restructuring of the city's industries, we are sure that the goal of 20 per cent is within reach," Yao Fei, assistant director of the city's Development and Reform Commission, said at a press conference on energy conservation measures.

The city announced in its 11th Five-Year Plan, released at the beginning of this year, that producing one unit of GDP should be possible with energy consumption equal to 0.68 of ton of standard coal 15 per cent less than the 0.80 of ton required under the 10th Five-Year Plan.

"By aiming for a 15 per cent reduction, we were setting our energy consumption at a level already more advanced than the rest of the country," said Yao.

"Despite the fact our potential to restructure industry in the capital is so slim because of the massive proportion of tertiary industry we already have."

But Beijing had to adjust its targets in August when the National Development and Reform Commission stressed that all provinces and municipalities should aim for 20 per cent reduction in energy consumption.

Specifically, Yao said the city is expected to enlarge the proportion of tertiary industries to 70 per cent of total output by the end of the 11th Five-Year Plan, compared with the current 67.6 per cent.

"When the proportion of tertiary industry jumps by one point, water consumption can be reduced by 1.4 points. So we are confident we can reduce water consumption by 3.5 points," said Yao.

Also, Yao said the city would introduce more bio-energy to ease the current pressure on limited power sources.

Source: China Daily