The bank loans to China's energy-consuming and high-polluting sectors slowed down in the first five months this year amid the country's efforts to save energy and reduce emissions.

Outstanding loans from major Chinese banks to these sectors stood at 1.5 trillion yuan (US$ 194.8 billion) at the end of May, an increase of 104 billion yuan over the start of the year, the China Banking Regulatory Commission said on Friday.

The January-May period increment was 52.7 billion yuan less than the increase amount in the same period of last year.

The energy-consuming and high-polluting sectors in China include those involving oil processing and coking, chemicals, construction materials, iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, and power.

(Xinhua News Agency July 13 2007)