A cement plant will shut down during The World Games 2009 in the host city to ease air pollution, a local official said Monday.

The city's Environmental Protection Bureau persuaded Southeast Cement Corp., along with steelmakers, state-run utility Taiwan Power Co., and petrochemical producers, to join in the initiative to keep Kaohsiung's air cleaner during next July's games.

Southeast Cement's plant will shut down for one month to coincide with the event, the official said.

Partially state-owned China Steel Corp. agreed to halt operations of one of its electricity boilers and promised to replace coal with natural gas to contribute to better air quality during the international sports festival.

Three privately-owned steel plants in the city's Linhai Industrial Park also agreed to stop operations or reduce production during that period, the official said.

Taipower also agreed to cooperate with the initiative by agreeing to use natural gas for electricity generating units in Kaohsiung City on the condition that the supply of electricity and safety are both ensured.

The bureau also asked plants in the petrochemical industry to avoid carrying out annual maintenance next summer to avoid triggering massive air pollution in a short amount of time when build-up silt is removed from pipes.

The official added that the bureau will continue to invite more factories to join in the campaign for better air quality during the Games.