US experts have suggested that China's air pollution controls
should start with caps on the sulfur dioxide emissions of coal
power stations.
The air in nearly half of China's cities is heavily polluted,
according to the State Environmental Protection Administration
(SEPA).
SEPA Deputy Director Zhang Lijun told an international seminar
on air quality management in Beijing yesterday that in most cities
with a population of more than one million, the levels of sulfur
dioxide and particulates in the air far exceed the national
standard.
To tackle the problem, US researchers have suggested started
with coal power plants.
"Coal-fired power plants are major sources of sulfur dioxide,
and it would be a good idea to start with them in the air pollution
control campaign," said John Chang, team leader of indoor air
research with the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Chang and 65 other US experts were in Beijing attending the
Seventh Sino-US Technology and Engineering Conference. They also
visited two demonstration power plants fitted with advanced
desulfurization facilities.
"We were told that more coal-fired power plants would install
desulfurization equipment," Chang said. "The government is
determined to control air pollution, but the key will be whether
these power plants permanently adopt the equipment."
The government plans to cap sulfur dioxide emissions at 23
million tons by 2010, according to its 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), which maps
out social and economic development over the next five years.
Coal-fired power plants alone emit more than 60 per cent of the
total sulfur dioxide pollution, with SEPA statistics showing that
16 million tons out of the total 25.5 million tons of sulfur
dioxide was emitted by coal power stations.
Chang pointed out that China currently lacks a system of
monitoring and meting out rewards and punishment in relation to
power stations.
(China Daily October 25, 2006)