Beijing Closing Coal Plants in Environmental Move
China has taken advantage of a drop in
electricity demand due to the global
financial crisis to speed up a campaign
to close small coal-fired power plants
and improve its battered environmental
record, according to The Associated
Press. Authorities have closed a total of
7,467 power plants, meeting a previously
announced goal 18 months ahead
of schedule, said Sun Qin, deputy
administrator of the Cabinet’s National
Energy Administration. “This couldn’t
be done when power demand was very
intense,” Sun said. “Due to this financial
crisis, the power generation has
slowed down, so we took this opportunity
to accelerate the shutdown.” The latest
closures will reduce sulphur dioxide
(SO2) emissions that cause acid rain by
an estimated 1.1 million metric tons
(mt) and carbon dioxide output by 124
million mt/y, Sun said. He said the closures
involved moving 400,000 workers
to new jobs.
As featured in Womp 2009 Vol 07 - www.womp-int.com