December 02, 2008

China shuts 83 small coal fired power plants in Q1 of 2008

Xinhua quoted the National Development and Reform Commission as saying that China has closed 83 small coal fired generators with an aggregate capacity of 4.7 million kilowatts during the first three and half months of 2008.

Mr Zhao Yinong an official with the State Energy Administration under the NDRC said the closed capacity accounted for 36% of the 13 million kilowatt target set this year to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The report added that the closures would help China save 7.1 million tonnes of coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 14.2 million tonnes annually, since the closed capacity would be replaced by larger, more efficient plants.

China plans to close small, energy intensive coal fired units with a total capacity of 50 million kilowatt between 2006 and 2010. The closed capacity will save 14.5 million tonnes of coal and cut sulfurdioxide emissions by 247,000 tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by 29 million tonnes annually.