The work of regulating and integrating the development of mineral resources has seen good results with more than 8,000 small and illegal mines closed and nearly 20,000 suspended.

He said that key resources, like oil, gas, coal and iron ore, would be given priority in future exploration work.

The country has spent 2 billion yuan (US$250 million) in mineral exploration funds this year and will inject more in the future, he said.

Already the world's second-largest oil consumer and second-largest oil importer, China's demand is forecast to more than double by 2025.

And coal still accounts for 70 per cent of the country's energy consumption.

"By 2010, we hope to form a number of important strategic mineral resources bases in the west and make breakthroughs in exploration work in the east and in the middle part of the country," he said.

Zeng said the country would speed up the development of oil and gas in the deep sea and newly discovered fields on shore to increase oil and gas output.

The country will also speed up the construction of 13 big coal bases with the target of producing about 100 billion tons.

In another development, President Hu Jintao yesterday called for more efforts in building an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly society .

Production that seriously pollutes the environment and consumes resources must be eliminated, and public awareness of energy saving and environmental protection must be raised, he said.

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