China to Introduce Subsidies for Energy

　　The third session of the Eleventh National People's Congress held a press conference on March 10 and top officials answered reporters' questions about energy saving, emission reduction and climate change. Wang Guangtao, the Chairman of the NPC Environmental and Resources Protection Committee, Xie Zhenhua, the Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, Zhang Lijun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection attended the press conference and offered an explicit answer to the questions about the target of pollution reduction, waste incineration and etc., according to the Jinghua Times.

　　Keywords

　　1. Reduction of pollution

　　Agricultural pollution will be incorporated into pollution reduction targets.

　　According to the date released by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, China's major pollution indicators-sulfur dioxide and COD began to show a downward trend in the last two years. However, China's overall environmental quality has deteriorated. Regarding that problem, some media said that the Ministry of Environmental Protection concealed some negative information and the activity named "environmental protection storm" is gone.

　　Zhang Lijun responded by saying that environmental protection should not depend on one or two "storms". As to the information disclosure, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has conducted a comprehensive disclosure on the Internet. All the sudden environmental incidents including environmental quality are disclosed on the Internet. The Ministry of Environmental Protection does not only report a good situation.

　　Why does the public have a sense of contrast? “This is because that China does not only have two major pollutants. The efforts are not enough to change China's overall environmental quality by controlling the major two pollutants," Zhang said.

　　Zhang Lijun pointed out that the year of 2010 is the last year for the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan". The environmental protection departments have determined to achieve the goal of reducing the emissions of pollutants by 10% with confidence. At the same time, the year of 2010 is also a critical period during which China will design the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan". Based on the results of pollution surveys, regulatory authorities will increase the types of indicators for the control of major pollutants. At the same time, agricultural pollution should be included.

　　Xie Zhenhua said that the goal responsibility assessment would be strengthened in 2010. Chinese central government will carry out the assessment for the completion of this year's target in each province and build the accountability system.

　　2. Energy saving

　　Incandescent lamps will be replaced by the energy-saving lamps in China. Xie Zhenhua said, in the past two years China achieved good results in the promotion of energy-saving lamps. In the year of 2008 and 2009, 210 million energy-saving lamps were put in use with government's financial subsidies.

　　“In 2010 we are ready to put at least 150 million energy-saving lamps into use. Within a few years all the incandescent lamps in China will be replaced by energy-saving lamps, “Xie Zhenhua said. Now current policy is that when ordinary citizen buy energy-saving lamps they will obtain 50% subsidies from the central government. The Beijing Municipal Government will provide another 40% subsidies for Beijing's citizens.

　　As a result, each energy-saving lamp is only one yuan. As to the institutional customers, they will get 30% subsidies. All the measures result in pretty good effects. “If we replace all the incandescent lamps in China, we can save more than 48 billion kWh per year and there are great energy-saving potentials," Xie Zhenhua said.

　　In addition to the promotion of energy-saving air-conditioners and lamps, China will introduce the financial subsidies for vehicles, motors and other products in this summer. Several incentive policies will be introduced.

　　Hot topic

　　The limit order of plastic

　　The trash bags used in the agricultural markets may be replaced.

　　Xie Zhenhua, the prohibition of ultra-thin plastic bags has been in effect for more than one year and achieved good results. Xie Zhenhua said," I went to some malls and farmers market. The use of plastic bags in the supermarkets across China has been reduced by two thirds, the equivalent of 270 thousand tons of plastic. It is estimated that as much as 400 thousand tons of plastic, 2.4 million tons of oil and 7.69 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced every year in China's stores. "

　　Xie Zhenhua pointed out that a problem still exists that the ultra-thin plastic bags used in farmers market cannot be prohibited. There is another problem that garbage bags at home are not enough due to the restriction on plastic bags. Xie said:" So now we are addressing the problem of alternative of garbage bags in the farmers market. The degradation of plastic bags is another problem. We have to solve long-term pollution problems."

　　Hot topic

　　Waste incineration

　　China will support the incineration plants which meet the emissions standards. The establishment of Asuwei incineration plant is a hot topic. Zhang Lijun said:" As to those incineration plants which meet emission standards, our attitude is to support them. Dioxins and some other problems can be solved through some methods. "

　　It is reported that waste incineration has caused great controversy recently. The establishment of incineration plants in Guangdong Panyu, Beijing Liulitun and Asuwei has aroused great concerns. Zhang Lijun is the most senior official from the Ministry of Environmental Protection who made comments on the controversial problems.

　　Analysis

　　10 million kilowatts in a year

　　150 million tons

　　One year

　　Till the end of 2009 the national unit of energy consumption for GDP fell 14.38% in the first four years in the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan". The total emission of chemical oxygen demand dropped 9.66%. The emission of sulfur dioxide fell 13.14%. The targets of emission reduction were completed ahead of schedule.

　　10 million kilowatts

　　Chinese government plans to shut down small thermal power plants with total capacity of 10 million kilowatts and eliminate outdated iron capacity totaling 25 million tons and six million tons of steel making capacity. 50 million tons of cement production capacity will also be reduced. The central budget for investment is 33.3 billion yuan and central government's fund is about 50 billion yuan, which will be used to support the implementation of key energy-saving emission reduction projects. In the year, China will achieve the saving capability equal to 150 million tons of standard coal. China will also increase urban sewage treatment capacity of 15 million tons and trash processing capacity of more than 60, 000 tons. (Translator: Qinghua/Hanxin)

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