China reports drop in major pollutants emissions

Emissions of four major pollutants in China saw a year-on-year decrease of 2 to 3 percent in the first half of 2013, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Figures in a ministry report released on Friday show that Chemical Oxygen Demand, a measure of organic pollutants in water, stood at 11.993 million tonnes in the first six months, representing a 2.37-percent drop year on year. Emissions of sulfur dioxide, another major pollutant, in the period dropped 2.48 percent from the previous year to 10.569 million tonnes. Meanwhile, the ministry said, the total volume of ammonia nitrogen emissions was 1.259 million tonnes and nitrogen oxide emissions totalled 11.675 million tonnes, registering year-on-year decreases of 2.15 percent and 3.02 percent, respectively. The report cited strengthened emission reduction projects and policies to encourage denitration operations, revealing that denitration facilities with a combined capacity of 150 million kilowatt-hours will have been newly installed by the year end. According to the report, the ministry will soon issue more measures on various aspects including the electricity price evaluation of coal-fuelled generators and waste emission limits for construction projects. In addition, the ministry vowed to urge companies to solve environmental problems and promote advanced emission reduction technology and management methods.