Coal's days numbered as Beijing improves its air
Source: Xinhua |
March 5, 2012, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BEIJING is to replace all coal-fired equipment in its core areas by 2013 as the capital strives to curb pollution, officials said yesterday.
The city will cap its annual coal consumption at 15 million tons by 2015, setting a stricter goal compared with the previous 20 tons, according to Beijing's Development and Reform Commission.
Beijing also wants areas inside its 5th Ring Road to be coal-free by 2015, said Gao Xinyu, head of the commission's energy division.
Vice Mayor Hong Feng has said that reducing the amount of coal burned was one of the most important efforts being made to reach the city's pollution control target.
Beijing consumed 26.35 million tons of coal in 2010, accounting for 30 percent of its total energy consumption, while the other 70 percent was made up of natural gas, imported electricity and new and renewable energies.
To achieve its target, the city will replace four coal-burning power plants with natural gas plants, ban coal-fired winter heating and use more clean energy, said Zhao Lei, deputy director of the commission.
The city's air quality has been improving over the past 10 years since it shut 180 polluting and energy-consuming companies and over 200 coal mines.
In January, it began to disclose readings of PM2.5, particles 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter.
Fossil fuel combustion is one of the major sources of the tiny particles which can lodge in the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.
The city will cap its annual coal consumption at 15 million tons by 2015, setting a stricter goal compared with the previous 20 tons, according to Beijing's Development and Reform Commission.
Beijing also wants areas inside its 5th Ring Road to be coal-free by 2015, said Gao Xinyu, head of the commission's energy division.
Vice Mayor Hong Feng has said that reducing the amount of coal burned was one of the most important efforts being made to reach the city's pollution control target.
Beijing consumed 26.35 million tons of coal in 2010, accounting for 30 percent of its total energy consumption, while the other 70 percent was made up of natural gas, imported electricity and new and renewable energies.
To achieve its target, the city will replace four coal-burning power plants with natural gas plants, ban coal-fired winter heating and use more clean energy, said Zhao Lei, deputy director of the commission.
The city's air quality has been improving over the past 10 years since it shut 180 polluting and energy-consuming companies and over 200 coal mines.
In January, it began to disclose readings of PM2.5, particles 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter.
Fossil fuel combustion is one of the major sources of the tiny particles which can lodge in the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.
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