Ministry of Environmental Protection Announces Results of Pollutant Discharge Reduction Review

In July 2009, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the State Development and Reform Commission, the Bureau of Statistics, and the Ministry of Supervision jointly completed the 2008 review of total emissions reduction in China’s provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government and the five major electric power companies. The review found that 31 provinces (regions and municipalities), five major electric power groups and the State Grid Corporation each completed their emissions reduction targets. For eight cities with prominent problems, such as Cangzhou (Hebei) and Jinzhong (Shanxi), and five power plants, such as the Tianjin Chentang Thermal Power Plant, were ordered to take remedial action within a prescribed period and were penalized.

Personnel from the Ministry of Environmental Protection indicated that some problems had been found in the operation of sewage treatment and desulphurization facilities in some enterprises and some regions. Serious cases were: eight cities, such as Cangzhou City, had serious problems in regard to sewage treatment works, such as construction seriously lagging behind, failure to implement charging policy, long-term under-operation and ceasing operation for no good reason; Five power plants, such as the Tianjin Chengtang Thermal Power Plant, were found to have abnormal desulphurization facilities or falsified on-line monitoring data. In line with the relevant regulations, these eight cities were ordered to complete remediation before the end of 2009. For those that are unable to conduct adequate remediation or that fail to complete remediation within the prescribed period, the environmental appraisal of construction projects that will increase COD discharge and the national funds for such projects will be suspended. As to the five power plants, the costs for the desulphurization of power will be deducted according to the amount of energy generated during the time that the desulphurization facilities are offline, and penalties will be imposed according to state regulations.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection stressed that in line with regulations, for those that fail to pass the review and then fail to remedy the situation, or that cause significant negative social influence owing to poor standard of work, the supervisory organs will hold the responsible people in the areas in question liable. (Source: Securities Times)