China's State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) are asked to cut their energy intensity, measured by power consumption per 10,000 yuan ($1,544) of output, by 16 percent during the next Five Year Plan (2011-2015), China Business News reported on Wednesday, citing the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).

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The SASAC also urged the SOEs to cut more pollutions than the national average amount by the end of 2015.

Huang Shuhe, vice director of SASAC, said the target is harder to realize than the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) period because a lot of work has been done during the past five years, leaving smaller room for the present target.

Huang also said many SOEs in heavy industries are fast expanding their production capacity and some of them lack energy-saving technology.

Huang said SOEs have to develop low carbon technology and standards on their own if they still want to stay competitive.