China has already shut down small coal-fired generating units with an aggregate capacity of 10 million kilowatts so far this year, a target set for the whole year, in a bid to save energy and reduce emissions.

On Friday morning, 54 small coal-fired generating units in Henan Province in central China were closed down.

Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said fulfilling the annual target almost two months ahead of schedule was a result of united efforts of different regions and concerned departments and enterprises.

However, the country's tasks to save energy and reduce emissions remain arduous, Zeng said, urging continuous efforts to accomplish the goal set for the next four years till 2010.

China has been building large-capacity power plants to save energy and reduce emissions. The country plans to close small but energy-guzzling coal-fired generating units with a total capacity of 50 million kilowatts by 2010.

The closed capacity will save 14.5 million tons of coal and cut sulfur dioxide emissions by 247,000 tons and carbon dioxide emissions by 29 million tons a year.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2007)