Beijing will further cut its coal consumption by one-third by 2007 to reduce air pollution before the 2008 Olympic Games, the English-language newspaper China Daily reported on Friday.

The target is to cut coal consumption from the present 26 million tons to 15 million tons by the end of 2007.

The organizing committee of the Games released Thursday a draftplan for improving the environment before the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing.

Natural gas will be one of the main fuels to replace coal. A new natural gas pipeline is due to be completed before 2008, bringing the city's total gas capacity to 5 billion cubic meters, about four times the present amount, the newspaper said.

More than 200 enterprises inside the Fourth Ring Road and in the southeastern suburbs will rearrange their industrial structureor simply move out before 2008 to reduce pollution in the area.

Tight restriction on vehicles will also be implemented as the Beijing municipal government encourages citizens to leave their cars behind and use public transport such as buses, the subway andrailway.

Close