The commission will sponsor 20 projects within the next two years to reinforce the capacity of the Chinese capital in treating pollution, recycling resources and conserving water and energy, said division director He Bingguang.

"An estimated 3 billion yuan (US$361 million) will be channelled to the 20 projects to help make the 2008 sporting event a genuinely green one," the official said.

The commission plans to help build a State-level Olympic village pilot project, where a high-efficiency, energy-saving lighting system will be used, He said in an interview with China Daily.

Solar-energy heat-collecting and solar power-generating systems will be integrated with the buildings and some Olympic facilities in the village, he said.

Under the commission's plan, pollution-causing facilities -- including the Capital Iron and Steel Corp and a cement plant in Fangshan District and a coal-burning power plant in the Shijingshan District -- will undergo substantial technological transformation. Cars using outdated technology will be phased out from Beijing's streets.

The commission will support the development of high-efficiency equipment and expertise that saves water and energy, and it will promote clean production among enterprises in Beijing, he said.

In addition, more communities in Beijing will get recycling facilities to process reusable resources, he said.

The projects will be open to international bidding, giving foreign companies business opportunities, he said.

SETC will also organize experts to provide environmental protection consultant services for the Olympics, he said.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced that the government will invest 880 million yuan (US$106 million) over the "next few years" to speed up the development of electric vehicles.

(China Daily April 12, 2002)