Chinese capital Beijing will put into use 20 bigger and more efficient heating centers in the next two years in a bid to reduce pollution.

Ten such centers were in operation and the city planned to increase the number to 20 in 2009 and 30 in 2010, an official with the Municipal Commission of Development and Reform said Monday.

The 30 centers, replacing 670 small coal-fired boilers, would provide heating to 100 million cubic meters of housing in ten suburban districts, according to the official.

The city launched the project of building more efficient and less polluting heating facilities in Changping District in 2005.

The centers, equipped with desulphurization facilities, could reduce harmful smoke and sulphur dioxide emissions by 74 percent and 68 percent respectively, according to the commission. They were also 30 percent more efficient.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2009)