"Xie Zhenhua will be in charge of environmental protection and energy savings, these are the areas where he is an expert," the paper said.

His appointment reflects the government's vow to place greater priority on protecting the environment and raising energy efficiency as China continues to modernize, it said.

Xie headed up the State Environmental Protection Administration from 1998 to 2004, but routinely lamented the lack of power the administration had to restrict pollution during a period when China's economy boomed.

He stepped down after an explosion at a petrochemical plant in northeast China in late 2004.

The explosion resulted in up to 100 tons of toxic benzene leaking into the Songhua River, cutting off water supplies to millions living downstream.

The spill also created a diplomatic crisis as the toxic slick flowed down the Songhua river into eastern Russia.

"Our nation faces severe problems related to high energy consumption and heavy environmental pollution," the paper quoted Ma Kai, the head of the planning commission, as saying.

"From now onwards we must establish a responsibility system aimed at saving energy and reducing the output of major pollutants."

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