Smoke rises from the chimneys of a thermal power plant in Shanghai. (Photo : Reuters)
The Chinese government is set to implement a program which aims to encourage green technology and make full use of resources to preserve the environment in a bid to promote clean industrial operations.
In a statement released on March 4, Wednesday, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said that the program would help reduce pollution by promoting clean industries and sustainable development this year.
The Global Times reported that based on data from the MIIT, Chinese companies are expected to consume at least 4 million tons of coal by the end of the year as the agency would help companies in upgrading of technology.
According to the report, majority of the country's energy consumption is coal-based, which accounts for 66 percent of energy used in 2014.
By encouraging the use of clean energy, the government expects a significant drop in the number of industries using coal for production, the report added.
MIIT is also anticipating the level of toxic emission to drop dramatically this year; these emissions include 60,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, 70,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, 20,000 volatile organic compounds, and 40,000 tons of industrial fumes.
The report said that the program was partly triggered by worsening pollution and smog level in the country, which drove many to call for tougher laws against pollution and for environmental protection.
The government said that it will provide technological upgrade and assistance to several factories in Beijing, nearby Tianjin municipality and Hebei Province, including those within the Yangtze River Delta industrial area. These areas will be prioritized by the government since they are the worst affected by air pollution and smog, as reported.
The government has also pledged to implement a system that will track energy use of more than 2,000 major industries throughout the country.
