China will replace four coal-burning heating plants in the capital Beijing with natural gas fired ones by the end of next year.
Beijing will fully shut down its coal-fired power plants in the capital city by 2017, in a move to fight the pollution from coal-burning emissions, according to the municipal commission for development and reform.
China government plan to cut 13 MnT of coal consumption over the next five years, or a 50% drop from the 2012 levels. As a result, total coal consumption in 2017 will be brought down to less than 10 MnT. Last month the government announced plans to slash coal consumption and close polluting mills and factories, though experts said implementing the targets would be a major challenge.
The new plants will replace four coal-fired ones that provide heating for homes in the city's central urban area as well as generating electricity, while four gas-fired power plants under construction are expected to help reduce coal use by 9.2 MnT when they go into operation. The coal-burning power plants will be phased out until they will be shut down by 2016.
Statistics show that coal burning is the second greatest contributor to Beijing's air pollution (16.7%), only after vehicles (22.2%). China has been under pressure to tackle air pollution that has despoiled much of China's air, water and soil.
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