National Bio Energy Co., Ltd. (NBE), a joint venture between the Dragon Power Co., Ltd. and the State Grid, has generated more than 2.6 billion kilowatt hours of "green electricity" since its first biomass power plant was established in December 2006, the company said.

It said 15 biomass power plants consumed more than 3 million tons of straw and generated power equivalent to the use of 1.2 million tons of standard coal, avoiding 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The 15 plants created 15,000 rural jobs and brought more than 1 billion yuan (about US$143 million) to local farmers.

NBE has government approval for 40 projects and has established plants in more than 10 provinces and autonomous regions, including Shandong, Hebei and Xinjiang.

Among these, 12 projects with 324 MW installed capacity are operating and seven projects with 84 MW installed capacity are being built.

Dragon Power is a private company backed by Citigroup and a domestic technology company.

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2009)