High rises are seen shrouded by smog in Lanzhou, Gansu province, Jan 18, 2014. The energy conservation and environmental protection industries in the northwestern province are expected to boom in the next few years, as the local government starts to recognize the huge, pent-up demand in the field amid its green transformation. [Photo by He Yini / chinadaily.com.cn]

The energy conservation and environmental protection industries in Northwest China's Gansu province are expected to boom in the next few years, as the local government starts to recognize the huge, pent-up demand in the field amid its green transformation.

"The output value of the energy-saving and environmental protection industries is predicted to hit 50 trillion yuan ($8.26 trillion) in 2015, and will grow at an annual rate of more than 15 percent in years to come," said Hao Yuan, vice governor of Gansu province, in a high-level meeting on Jan 18.

The meeting was initiated by International Energy Conservation Protection Environmental Association, or IEEPA, a non-profit international organization specializing in sustainable development between economy and environment.

Hao added that the government will further improve the policy mechanism tailored for the industries while investing significantly in research and development and technological upgrades in the field, in a bid to answer the growing call for a green and sustainable development.

The economic growth of Gansu province has been underpinned by heavy industry in the past few decades, with high energy consumption and massive emissions, leaving a polluted and fragile ecological system, according to Hao.

To date, Gansu is the only province that has been approved as a national pilot zone of the circular economic model in China, and building "an ecological security screen" that focuses on rebuilding forests, conserving wetlands and water resources, as the province faces land desertification, soil erosion and threats to deteriorating biodiversity.

"That's a huge opportunity for us, although the road ahead is bumpy," said Hao.