China’s state media reports that four major coal-fired power generation plants are to be replaced by cleaner gas facilities in an effort to overcome major smog problems that threaten health.
Beijing’s ambitious efforts to tackle its crippling smog crisis have taken another dramatic step forward with state media reporting the city plans to replace its main coal-fired power plants by 2015.
T
he official Chinese newsagency Xinhua reports that municipal authorities plan to build four new gas-fired power plants to replace current coal-based power stations by the end of next year.
The US$7.79 billion investment program will enable the development of four new power plants and 40 related smaller scale “utility projects” designed to slash sulphur dioxide emissions by 10,000 tonnes a year.
Officials said the city’s four coal plants, which account for 40 per cent of Beijing’s coal consumption and boast 2.7 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, will now be closed as soon as the new gas plants come online.
The crackdown on coal, which is said to account for over 16 per cent of the city’s airborne particles, is part of a wide-ranging government-led effort to improve air quality.
That effort also includes ambitious plans to close polluting factories and rapidly accelerate the roll out of clean vehicles.
The news came as Beijing again faced dangerous levels of air pollution during the annual seven day National Day Holiday last week.
Six expressways were closed and flights were disrupted at Beijing Capital International Airport as a result of smog.
