Prospectors have discovered abundant geothermal reserves in east China's Shandong Province and successfully drilled a well on Tuesday.  

The new geothermal reserves, probably the largest of its kind in China, was discovered 1,180 to 1,400 meters below the surface in the Shanghe County oilfield, according to the Committee of Geological Reserves of Shandong.

The ground water obtained on Tuesday measures some 60 degrees Celsius and geologists estimate that the total reserves of hot water in Shanghe will hit 4.8 billion cubic meters and 2 billion is available for exploitation.

The hot spring found contains a variety of elements and is therefore suitable for medical use.

Geothermal energy is a new energy resource which has a brighter future than hydropower and fossil fuels, said experts. It can be used in heating, textile, paper making industries and hot spring tourism.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2004)