China blacklists 46 thermal power plants (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-01-28 09:29
China's environmental watchdog announced Thursday a list of 46 thermal power
plants that posed a threat to the environment because they lacked
desulfurization equipment.
The plants, mostly located in Shandong, Henan and Shanxi provinces, are among
the 137 desulfurization projects planned in the country's acid rain and sulfur
dioxide control regions covering 1.09 million sq km with 39 percent of the
nation's total population, said a statement issued by the State Environmental
Protection Administration (SEPA).
A SEPA official said the desulfuration projects should have been completed by
the end of 2005 according to the regulations. However, construction on the
projects has not even begun.
"If the pollutants discharged by thermal power plants are not effectively
checked, the country's air pollution problem will worsen," he said.
Thermal power plants, mostly fueled by coal, are major air polluters in
China. Figures from SEPA indicated that in 2003, the plants discharged 11
million tons of sulfur dioxide into the air, accounting for more than 50 percent
of the total emission.
Sulfur dioxide emissions in China will reach more than 21 million tons by
2020 if not effectively curbed.
"Urgent measure must be taken to check the discharge of sulfur dioxide and
desulfurization equipment must be installed in thermal power plants," said the
official, vowing that SEPA will punish those who run against the country's
environmental laws and regulations.
The move marked another major step taken by SEPA to help curb the excessive
construction of power plants in the country.
On January 18, SEPA ordered the halt of construction of 30 large projects
which failed to meet environmental standards.
Twenty-six of the projects are hydropower stations, thermal- power plants and
other power projects including two at the Three Gorges area.
The projects were halted because they failed to pass environmental impact
assessments according to the country's laws and regulations.
The laws stipulate that all projects must pass environmental impact
assessments before they can be constructed. However, many localities regard
environmental bureaus as rubber stamps, and go ahead with construction even if
the green light is not given.
SEPA pledged that it will sharpen its teeth and take concrete actions fight
environmental degradation in the country.