Experts urge cap on power plants' sulphur dioxide emissions
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-10-25 08:56 US experts have suggested China's air pollution
controls should start with caps on the sulphur dioxide emissions of coal power
stations.
Nearly half of China's cities have heavily polluted air, according to the
State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).
Yesterday SEPA Deputy Director Zhang Lijun told an international seminar on
air quality management in Beijing that in most cities with a population more
than 1 million, the percentages of sulphur dioxide and particles far exceeded
the standard.
In response to the problem US researchers have suggested coal power plants
need to be tackled first.
"Coal-fired power plants are major sources of sulphur 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 United States
Environmental Protection Agency.
Chang and 65 other US experts were in Beijing for the seventh Sino-US
Technology and Engineering Conference. They also visited two demonstration power
plants fitted with advanced desulphurization facilities.
"We were told that more coal-fired power plants would install
desulphurization equipment," said Chang. "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 sulphur dioxide emissions at 23 million tons by
2010, according to the 11th Five-Year Plan.
Coal-fired power plants alone emit more than 60 per cent of the total sulphur
dioxide pollution, with SEPA statistics showing that 16 million tons out of the
total 25.5 million tons of sulphur dioxide was emitted by coal power stations.
China currently lacks a continuous emission monitoring system to provide data
and a basis for implementing a reward-punishment system for power stations, said
Chang.
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