Beijing, the capital of China, has closed the first of four large coal-fired power plants in a move to cut air pollution, state media reported, citing officials with the municipal Development and Reform Commission.<br /> <br /> The authorities has shut down the Gaojing Thermal Power Plant's six 100 MW generating units, which would help cut 2.3 million tonnes of coal use, Xinhua reported July 23. The plant is owned by the China Datang Corporation, one of China's top five power groups.<br /> <br /> On the same day, two natural gas-fired generating units at the Gaojing Natural Gas-fired Heating and Power Plant commenced operation after a week-long trial run. The third generating unit is expected to come on stream by October.<br /> <br /> The new plant is part of the four natural gas-fired power plants the city planned to build during the 12th Five-Year Plan period. Upon completion, these plants will add clean power capacity of 7.2 GW and heating capacity of 100 million square meters, helping cut 10,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide emissions.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Beijing intends to reduce coal use by 2.6 million tonnes this year and 9.2 million tonnes by the end of 2016, leaving its annual consumption at less than 10 million tonnes by 2017.<br /> <br /> The three remaining coal-fired power plants -- Jingneng Shijingshan, Guohua Dongjiao and Huaneng Gaobeidian, are all to be closed by the end of 2016.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align:center;"> <img src="/upfiles/news/image/20140725/20140725164045_6337.jpg" alt="" style="line-height:1.5;" /> </div>