The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development's (MOHURD) Department of Village and Township Construction set plans to provide subsidies for energy-saving building materials, the Shanghai Securities News reported Monday.

Related readings:  Building materials industry expands despite property controls  DCM announces $25m expansion in China  Cool-down won't freeze materials industry  Green Low-carbon Building Exhibition in Hangzhou

The plans are part of the expansion of the "building materials going to the countryside" pilot project in 2011.

Industry experts said although the project is still in its early stages, its potential market is huge, according to the report.

Last October, six ministries including MOHURD chose Shandong province and Ningxia Hui autonomous region as the pilot regions for promoting cement products in the countryside.

The pilot program aims to seek specific measures, operational methods and working modes..

The results showed that the project can be carried out on a larger scale, the newspaper said.