Millions of dollars were saved by the Chinese military on energy costs in 2006 and they played their part in the nation's drive to save resources.

People's Daily says the General Logistics Department of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has released a report revealing the military saved 55 thousand tons of oil, 40 million tons of water, 170 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, 7,500 tons of grain and 1.157 million tons of coal. These savings are worth 1.4 billion yuan (US$180.7 million).

The picture shows the troops stationed in south China's Shenzhen City installing solar water heating panels. 

Liao Xilong, director of the General Logistics Department, said the army should take the lead in saving energy and help China build an energy-saving society.

People's Daily reports that the military cut their spending with the help of scientific and technological advances.

A new type of snow plough helped to cut the navy's oil consumption at airports from 30,000 tons to around 10,000 tons per annum. 

A sewage handling system built by the logistics department in the Beijing Military District has helped to better manage 800,000 tons of waste water and save 250,000 yuan (US$32,266). And the energy-saving kitchen range in Chengdu Military District has saved more than 6,600 tons of coal and over 1.16 million yuan (US$149,716).

The General Logistics Department has also set up energy-saving goals for barracks construction where billions of yuan are invested each year. That's designed  to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent and to build 300 ecological military camps by 2010.

Wang Qian, deputy director of the General Logistics Department,  says the military is drafting standards for consumption and barracks construction. It's also working to establish a series of rewards and punishments to encourage energy-saving activities.

(CRI.cn February 7, 2007)