The government yesterday urged the coal industry, the biggest in the world, to speed up energy-saving and emission-control measures.

According to a notice from the National Development and Reform Commission, the top industry watchdog, by 2010, coal firms should have cut their energy consumption per ton by 20 percent from 2005 levels.

They should increase the use of solid waste, coal mine water and coal bed methane, the NDRC said, and those who do will be rewarded with favorable policies.