The university announced over the weekend that it would build the National Western Energy Research Institute as a world-class energy technology research center, engineering application center and high-level personnel training base, taking advantage of the school's comprehensive advantages in various disciplines.

The institute will mainly focus on researching core technology and key equipment as well as an energy strategy for the clean and efficient development and use of coal, oil and gas. Renewable energy, the chemical industry, energy storage, smart grid technology and nuclear power will also be studied.

Its aim is to help ensure China's energy security, which is vital to the nation's prosperity and development.

The new research institute will be built in the university's newly developed technological innovation park in Xixian New Area, a national-level urban development zone between Xi'an and Xianyang. It is due to open by the end of the year.