Shenzhen residents can expect to breathe fresher air as half of Nanshan Thermal Power Plant officially gave up burning heavy oil and started using liquefied natural gas (LNG) yesterday.

Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng witnessed a ceremony marking the breakthrough in the government's efforts to control air pollution on Nantou Peninsula.

The power plant, owned by Shenzhen Nanshan Power Co. Ltd., had caused major air pollution for 100,000 nearby residents over the past few years, the city's environment watchdog said.

Fu Bo, general manager of the power plant, said the new fuel is expected to cut around 3,000 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions and 300 tons of dust each year, and largely reduce acid rain.

Two of the plant's generators were switched to LNG from April 20 on a test run, and another two generators are expected to use the greener fuel before December and early next year respectively.

The government offered 350 million yuan (US$45 million) in subsidies to encourage the plant's upgrades last year.

The plant started the upgrade in 2005 amid protests from nearby residents.

The power station is one of the major electricity suppliers to the city, contributing nearly 30 percent of city's power. However, the decade-old station struggled to meet emission standards due to outdated equipment.

The Nantou Peninsula, with five power plants and 20 textile, chemical and timber factories, is a major source of pollution in the city, producing at least 72 percent of the city's air pollutants.

Editor: Yan