Officials and researchers are looking for ways to make the skies of Beijing cleaner, sources from the Ministry of Science and Technology announced at a press conference yesterday in Beijing.

The ministry has allocated 8 million yuan (US$963,000) as capital to research technology to deal with air pollution, a spokesperson for the ministry's Department for Rural and Social Development said.

The project, which will last for a year, expects to generate policies, regulations and technologies to help the city minimize air pollution by 2002. The cleaner air is expected to help in bidding for the 2008 Olympic Games, said Jiang Xiaoke, the project's general director.

Researchers will conduct in-depth analyses on air pollution and build index databases through a computerized global information system, said Jiang.

Researchers will set up an air pollution forecast system and explore clean air technologies.

Researchers will study the use of energy and its influence on air quality, the control of pollution particles and prevention of industrial pollution, said Jiang.

The project will be undertaken by Beijing University, Beijing Environmental Surveillance Centre and Qinghua University, according to Chen Chuanhong, deputy director of the ministry's Department for Rural and Social Development.

"More effort is needed to make the air of Beijing clearer, even though air quality has improved since last year," said Vice-Minister Deng Nan. "The Ministry of Science and Technology will give more support to this effort."

Starting last year, Beijing has taken 68 measures to control air pollution, such as improving boilers, using cleaner coal, reducing the gas emissions from motor vehicles, enlarging green areas and restructuring industrial sectors, according to Vice-Mayor Wang Guangtao.

The State Environmental Protection Administration has listed the control and prevention of Beijing's air pollution as an important item for the next few years, Vice-Minister Wang Xinfang explained.

He pledged that environmental protection departments will join hands with scientific institutions to fulfil the task.