Italy helps China build a solar station for the 2008 Olympic Games

Italy will help Beijing build a solar system for the Olympic Games village, providing hot water and electricity for sports competitions.

Italian Environment Minister Corrado Clini said Italy will invest about 4 million euros (4.7 million USD) in this project.

The project is one of the environmental cooperation projects signed between the Italian government and the Beijing government in 2002.

According to Pei Chenghu, deputy director of Beijing Environmental Protection Committee, the project will help Beijing complete its commitment to a green Olympic Games.

The solar system will be built by Guoao Investment Development Company (China) and international trading company Merloni TermoSanitari (Italy).

The system will provide hot water and electricity to 16,000 people in competitions. After the Olympics, the system will provide 2,000 apartments and houses with about 6,000 people.

Mr. Clini stressed that solar energy will not only be the only source of energy for the Olympic village, but they have prepared other energy supply systems.

Since 2002, Italy has invested nearly 40 million euros (47 million USD) to help Beijing improve its environment in 17 projects.