China's coal mining industry has been urged to be more efficient in energy consumption so as to realize the goal of saving 60 million tons of standard coal set in the government's 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010).

Coal firms should enhance the use of solid waste, coal mine water and coal bed methane, said Wang Xianzheng, deputy director of the State Administration of Work Safety, at a recent meeting.

By 2010, 70 percent of solid waste such as coal gangue and flurry should be used in electricity production, Wang said.

The installed capacity of power plants fueled by coal gangue should reach 30 million kilowatts by 2010, which may help save 52 million tons of standard coal, Wang said.

More than 40 percent of mine gas shall be extracted and utilized during the 11th Five-Year Plan period, he said.

Earlier reports said that by 2010, the coal mining industry is required to cut its energy consumption per ton by 20 percent from the 2005 level.

Coal firms have also been told to boost investment in new equipment and form alliances with universities and research institutions to develop key technologies for energy saving and emission control.

Coal production in China climbed 7.1 percent year on year to 1.1 billion tons in the first half of this year, accounting for one-third of the world's total, according to industry data.

According to a government plan revealed in January, coal production in the country will hit 2.6 billion tons in 2010.