CAI-Asia China Project E-Newsletter

Issue No. 47, 2008

 

Included in this issue:

- Beijing accomplish the year aim of "blue sky" one month earlier than projected

- NDRC: Fuel tax scheme to be made public soon

- Shanghai will take strict control measures of vehicles in the 4^th phase of Three Years Action on Environmental Protection

- 'Green' crime team formed in Kunming

- Environment: 350b yuan to pour into environmental industry

 

AIR QUALITY

- Facts

Beijing accomplish the year aim of "blue sky" one month earlier than projected (November 30, 2008)

Beijing has got the 256^th "blue sky" day on November 30, which means the number of days achieving Grade II Standard has reached 70% of the whole year and Beijing accomplished the year aim of "blue sky" a month earlier than projected. The air quality keeps improving in continuously ten years in Beijing.

Chinese link: http://news.china.com/zh_cn/news100/11038989/20081130/15211911.html

 

Hohhot: good air quality days reached 276 (November 27, 2008)

In Hohhot city, Inner Mongolia, good air quality days reached 276 by October 15, including 113 days of excellent air quality and 163 days of good air quality, increasing 59 days of Grade I Standard than the same period of the last year.

Chinese link: http://www.vecc-mep.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=28574

 

- Initiatives

Shanghai started project on Green Expo to ensure no more than ten days of high polluted air quality (November 30, 2008)

Shanghai EPB held news press to start project on Green Expo. The project is expected to ensure no more than 10 days of high polluted air quality and no worse than the level in the same period of last few years. Meanwhile, Shanghai will hold the preview of emergency and guarantee measures for polluted environment case in the next year.

Chinese link: http://bhstock.hexun.com/2008-11-30/111813455.html

 

Lanzhou get 3 new air quality auto-monitoring sites (November 27, 2008)

Database on air quality monitoring system and GHG has been accomplished by Sino-Italy Cooperation on Environmental Protection on November 17. The database will provide 3 new auto-monitoring sites, and contribute monitoring data of regular pollutants such as SO2, NO2, and PM10, as well as new pollutants like O3, CO and BTX.

Chinese link: http://www.vecc-mep.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=28575

 

ENERGY

- Facts

Energy: Qinhuangdao coal prices slide by 18% in a week (November 28, 2008)

Coal prices at Qinhuangdao port, China's largest coal port, witnessed the sharpest fall in the year in the past week, with steam coal over 5,500 kilocalories dropping to 570 yuan per ton on Thursday, or 18 percent lower than that of seven days ago according to statistics provided by Qinghuangdao Port Group.

The dramatic coal price slide in China is largely due to the global economic downturn and dwindling domestic demand.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/28/content_7251841.htm 

 

Energy: Calls for coal production cuts as prices fall (November 25)

Qinhuangdao coal prices have fallen 25 percent in two weeks as coal miners call for a coalition to cut production.

Coal prices in Qinhuangdao port, China's largest coal port, dropped by 25 percent over the past two weeks. Analysts are warning coal producers to cut production in case the decline in demand drives the coal price down still further, according to a report in today's China Securities Journal.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/25/content_7238896.htm

 

-Initiatives

The first wind measurement tower set up (November 28, 2008)

Recently, a wind measurement tower has been set up in Tianjin city, which is the first completed tower in the project for the wind resource in China. It will provide observation data and make a lot of sense for wind energy inspection and evaluation. The project will contribute about 400 wind measurement towers in the whole country.

Chinese link: http://env.people.com.cn/GB/8424974.html

 

NDRC: Fuel tax scheme to be made public soon (November 27, 2008)

The fuel tax reform formula has now been reviewed by NDRC and various other related government departments. Once the draft reform formula is ready, it will be released to seek public opinion on amendments, said Zhang Ping, minister of the National Development and Reform Commission at a press conference this morning.

"The goal for this reform is to highlight four concepts, which are fair taxation, a regulated charging system, energy conservation and less financial burden for the people," Zhang said.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/27/content_7246750.htm 

Related readings:

Views on proposed fuel tax sought

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-11/27/content_7244339.htm

Fuel tax unlikely to hike inflation

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/28/content_7250751.htm

Fuel tax 'needs no further legislative approval'

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/26/content_7240380.htm

 

Public views to be sought for oil reforms (November 26, 2008)

The State Council said today it will seek public inputs on refined oil price reforms and the long-awaited fuel oil tax scheme.

The move is seen as a vital step to boost domestic demand as the government goes ahead with its steps to bolster economic sentiment.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/26/content_7243751.htm 

Related reading:

Lower oil price before fuel tax

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-11/26/content_7239608.htm

 

BP teams up with CAS for clean energy venture (November 26, 2008)

Global energy giant BP and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) today agreed to establish the Clean Energy Commercialization Center (CECC) joint venture in Shanghai, jointly investing 500 million yuan to commercialize Chinese clean energy technologies

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/26/content_7243718.htm

 

Nuclear and wind power get energy subsidy (November 26, 2008)

The central government has decided to allocate 800 million yuan ($11.76 million) by the end of this year to subsidize China's top nuclear and wind power providers, China Radio International reported.

The improvement is part of the government's 100 billion yuan additional fiscal package, which should be spent by the end of this quarter, to prevent an excessive economic slowdown.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/26/content_7243279.htm 

 

PetroChina signs LNG deal with Shell (November 25, 2008)

Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Europe's biggest oil company, had agreed to sell an annual 2 million tones of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China in a 20-year agreement, Shell (China) Limited said yesterday.

English link: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/news/2008-11/25/content_16821889.htm 

 

TRANSPORT

-Initiatives

First Green Chinese Locomotive Rolls (November 26, 2008)

The newest green locomotive, He Xie No.5 (HXN5), was brought into service on November 25. This designation is manufactured by both China South Qiyeyan Locomotive & Rolling Co. and General Motor USA. It features impressive efficiency and low emissions, qualifying for the U.S. Tier 2 standard. The locomotive with biggest power by now will become the main used locomotive in railway freight.  

Chinese link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/environment/2008-11/26/content_10414976.htm

 

Shanghai will take strict control measures of vehicles in the 4^th phase of Three Years Action on Environmental Protection (November 26, 2008)

In order to improve the air quality in 2010 Expo, Shanghai will take strict control measures of vehicles in the 4^th phase of Three Years Action on Environmental Protection. In the 4^th phase, Shanghai EPB will boost 21 projects with 5.5 billion yuan investment for air quality improvement, including implementing Grade IV Emission Standard in 2009 in advance, renewing buses and taxis, extending pilots of double-electricity buses and improving the facilities in gas stations.    

Chinese link: http://www.vecc-mep.org.cn/news/news_detail.jsp?newsid=28562

 

OTHERS

Expo 2010 pavilion reaches milestone (November 29, 2008)

SHANGHAI: The China pavilion for the Shanghai Expo placed its final concrete grouting on Friday, marking a milestone in the building of the country's showcase structure for the 2010 event, organizers said.

Known as the "The Crown of the East", the 63-m-tall pavilion costs about 1.5 billion yuan ($220 million) and is slated for completion by October.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/29/content_7253236.htm   

 

China earmarks $73m for rural environment protection (November 29, 2008)

China has decided to allocate 500 million yuan ($73.21 million) from the central fiscal for rural environment treatment, the Ministry of Environment Protection said Friday.

The fund would help save 600 villages out of severe environment problems and award 100 others which play exemplary roles in ecology. The program would directly benefit 4 million people, the ministry said.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/29/content_7253495.htm 

 

Threat of pollution growing in Pearl River Delta (November 28, 2008)

GUANGZHOU: Guangdong's relatively clean inland areas will face a growing threat from pollution if environmental problems are not properly handled during the industrial transfer, a government report said on Wednesday.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/28/content_7249018.htm

 

Chinese show devotion to halt climate change (November 28, 2008)

A survey by HSBC showed that Chinese respondents were the most prepared in the world to make a personal sacrifice to tackle climate change.

About 56 percent of Chinese respondents to the survey said they were prepared to make a personal commitment to change their lifestyle to fight climate change, according to HSBC.

English link: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/news/2008-11/28/content_16868013.htm 

'Green' crime team formed in Kunming (November 28, 2008)

KUNMING: Local public security and environmental protection bureaus have combined their efforts to facilitate environmental law enforcement with the foundation of a special police force in Kunming, capital of Yunan province.

The 60-strong police force, formed under the municipal public security bureau on Tuesday, is responsible for dealing with criminal acts in environmental pollution within the city, as well as assisting the environment bureau with administrative law enforcement, an officer surnamed Li at Kunming public security bureau told China Daily yesterday.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2008-11/28/content_7250216.htm 

 

Environment: 350b yuan to pour into environmental industry (November 27, 2008)

Among the country's 4-trillion-yuan financial stimulus plan, 350 billion yuan will be spent on improving the ecological environment and treating pollution, Zhang Ping, minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, told a press conference in Beijing today. The four-trillion-yuan investment will not be spent in the energy and resource-intensive industries or high-pollution industries, Zhang said.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/27/content_7248177.htm

Related reading:

NDRC reveals details of stimulus package

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-11/27/content_7246758.htm

 

China committed to climate promises (November 27, 2008)

The country will not commit itself to a binding target in the reduction of greenhouse gases at the upcoming UN climate change summit in Poland but will continue its "unshakable commitments" to sustainable development, experts close to the negotiations said Wednesday.

China has already made tremendous achievements in combating climate change, and will continuously act as a responsible country in negotiations, Lu Xuedu, a senior official from the Ministry of Science and Technology, said.

English link: http://www.china.org.cn/environment/policies_announcements/2008-11/27/content_16837662.htm 

 

Environmental pollution no longer acceptable (November 27, 2008)

BEIJING -- China's environmental protection chief has warned local governments that pollution in the name of economic growth is no longer tolerable.

"At the primary stage of socialism, slowing or halting economic development for environmental protection is not acceptable. But pollution is not acceptable too," Environmental Protection Minister Zhou Shengxian was quoted by Thursday's People's Daily as saying.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/27/content_7248017.htm

 

Warm winter 'major threat' to crops (November 26, 2008)

Prolonged periods of drought resulting from China's 23rd consecutive "warm winter" will pose a serious threat to the country's crop yields, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said in a report published yesterday.

English link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-11/26/content_7239543.htm 

 

Desertification causes yearly loss of 54 billion yuan in China (November 26, 2008)

Tang Yuan, general director of the Research Department for Industry, Transportation and Trade, of the State Council Development Research Center, disclosed on November 25 that the direct economic loss from desertification reaches 54 billion yuan every year. This has already affected the lives and productivity of nearly 400 million people.

English link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6541192.html