During the construction of the West-to-East Power Transmission Project, the provincial government of Guizhou is to adopt a series of measures to deal with the environmental impact of the construction of its power plants, particularly its thermal power plants. Its aim is to curb pollution from source, especially air pollution, and to realize the simultaneous development of electric power construction and environmental protection.

The environment in Guizhou has improved measurably compared with five years ago. Sulfur dioxide discharge has decreased by 21.6 percent to 1.38 million tons from 1.76 million tons, smoke and dust discharge decreased by 41.7 percent, from 480,000 tons to 280,000 tons, and industrial dust decreased by 35.1 percent, from 385,000 tons to 250,000 tons.

The provincial electric power corporation has taken effective measures during the construction of the power project to control the three main pollutants released by the thermal power plants. The control of dust, as well as industrial and domestic sewage, which has applied mature technologies to the task, is continuing. Electric dust removers have been installed with a removal rate as high as 99.5 percent while sewage treatment projects have given priority to enhancing the recycling ratio.

The management of obsolete power plants has also been carried out simultaneously. These small thermal generating sets, within state requirements, have had to be shut down resolutely. Until now, small thermal generators of about 300,000 kw, under the provincial power corporation, have already been shut down. Those power plants with poor environmental protecting facilities have also been equipped with dust controllers and sewage treatment facilities.

Sulfur dioxide control is another key mission, as well as a major difficulty, in environmental protection of thermal power generators. Newly-established thermal plants in the six cities of Guiyang, Anshun, Kaili, Dujun and Xingyi have all been equipped with desulfurization facilities. During the renovation of flue gas desulfurization in the Guiyang Power Plant, 150 million yuan (US$18.1 million) has been spent on installing these facilities. Now, the sulfur dioxide discharged by both newly-established, and previous generating sets of 200,000 kw, has decreased by 90 percent, compared with the ninth Five-Year Plan period (1996-2000).

Previously-built power plants with sulfur content of coal surpassing 1 percent are going to be equipped with desulfurization facilities also. These will cost a total of 1 billion yuan (US$120.7 million).

In terms of the non-acid rain controlling areas, and sulfur content areas of coal firing, less than 1 percent should be first chosen to build a pithead power plant in order to take full advantage of low sulfur coal resources; its aim being to make the sulfur discharge of the new power plants up to, or below, the state standard.

Clean energy source transformation will also be carried out. The main energy source of coal in the current energy consumption structure will be replaced by natural gas and electricity, leaving enough capacity for the environmental protection of the West-to-East Power Transmission Project.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, February 27, 2003)