By the end of 2001, more than 10 million rural households nationwide were using marsh gas and more than 400 counties were developing their marsh-gas energy resources.

In Southwest China's Yunnan Province, for instance, the number of rural households using marsh gas reached 800,000 by the end of last year, including 180,000 which converted to the new fuel under a provincial government program.

Marsh gas is a more environmentally friendly energy produced by fermenting stalks in airtight vats. It can be used for lighting and cooking. In a liquid form, it is also suitable as livestock feed and its residue can be used as high-quality fertilizer.

By using marsh gas, Yunnan Province is able to save 2.4 million tons of firewood each year, equivalent to about 40,000 hectares of forest or 2 million tons of coal.

The replacement fuel can also save each rural household US$60-96 on annual energy bills. It generates an overall profit of more than US$72 million.

Other types of clean energy that are growing in popularity in China include solar energy and wind power.

According to a national development program for marsh gas, another 11 million rural households will be able to use the alternative energy source by the end of 2005.

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2003)