China plans to increase its hydroelectric power installed capacity by 80 percent to 180 million kilowatts in the next five years, said a senior development and reform official said here Friday.

China also sets the goal to triple the capacity to 300 million kilowatts by the year 2020, said Zhang Guobao, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission. "But hydropower development must go hand in hand with environmental protection."

China launched a survey on its waterpower resources in 2000, which was completed recently.

China's present hydropower installed capacity stands at approximately 100 million kilowatts, with 300 million kilowatts untapped, according to the outcome of the survey.

In China's remaining exploitable energy and resources, hydroelectric power accounts for 44.6 percent while coal make up 51.4 percent.

Last year, coal roughly constituted about two thirds of the country's primary energy consumption.

Source: Xinhua