The city plans to increase its use of natural gas by 10 per cent by 2010 to improve the environment, said Xu Jianmin, vice-president of the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau.

"Use of natural gas will be promoted in power generation to replace coal which pollutes the air," Xu said yesterday at an international exhibition on energy and environmental protection in Shanghai.

At present, natural gas makes up only 1 per cent of the city's energy consumption, while coal and oil account for 59 per cent and 40 per cent respectively, according to Xu.

The city plans to stop burning coal for energy in urban areas by 2010.

Natural gas from western China will become one of the city's major energy sources for civil and industrial purposes, Xu said.

Shanghai signed a contract with China National Offshore Oil Corp last month that will supply the city with 3 million tons of natural gas annually starting in 2012.

"Other alternative and clean energies will be explored for the sake of environmental protection and as a solution to energy shortages," he said.

Shanghai Automobile Industry Group is collaborating with US General Motors to produce automobiles fueled by mixed fuels and fuel cells.

Vehicles propelled by fuel cells are expected to be used in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The research and exploration of solar and wind energies are also on the agendas of local government.

(China Daily November 4, 2004)