The discharge of sulfur dioxide will drop from 25.49 million tons in 2005 to 22.95 million tons in 2010 while chemical oxygen demand (COD) should drop from 14.14 million tons to 12.73 million tons, under the plan.

Desulfurizition facilities will be incorporated in all new solid fuel-burning electricity plants with total power-generation capacities of 188 million kilowatts and established plants with capacities of 167 million kilowatts, cutting the country's sulfur dioxide emissions by 5.9 million tons annually.

China has so far installed desulfurizition facilities in solid fuel-burning electricity plants with total power-generation capacities of 35 million kilowatts, eliminating 1.23 million tons of sulfur dioxide emissions every year.

Daily urban sewage treatment capacity will rise to 12 million tons this year 45 million tons by 2010 and the daily utilization capacity of recycled water will reach one million tons this year and 6.8 million tons by 2010.

Meanwhile, charges for sulfur dioxide emissions will double from 0.63 yuan to 1.26 yuan per kilogram in three years, while urban sewage treatment fees of no more than 0.8 yuan per ton will be implemented and rubbish treatment fees will be raised.

The government will ensure the urban sewage treatment rate will reach 70 percent, the comprehensive use of industrial solid waste 60 percent, and water consumption per unit of industrial net profit will drop by 30 percent.

Related readings:  Greenery a key measure at work  Efforts urged to curb energy consumption, pollution  Non-fossil fuels to contribute 30% to energy consumption  Law on circular economy to come out next year

The daily seawater desalination capacity will increase by 900,000 cubic meters and the use of water from mining shafts will reach 2.6 billion cubic meters by 2010; the targets will be 70,000 cubic meters and 500 million cubic meters respectively in 2007.

The plan requires departments and local governments to prioritize the tasks and use economic, legal and administrative methods to curb excessive growth of high-energy consuming and heavy-polluting industries.

Meanwhile, efforts must be made to adjust industrial structure, improve technology, expand spending and strengthen monitoring.

1

2

3

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)