China will continue its massive elimination of backward industrial facilities in 2009 to save energy and cut pollution in its bid to address climate change, the government said Friday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) presides over a State Council meeting on Climate Change, Energy saving and Emission Reduction in Beijing, China, June 5, 2009. [Pang Xinglei/Xinhua]

China aims to close down small coal-burning power stations with a total generating capacity of 15 million kilowatts, according to an action plan approved by a joint meeting of the national steering committee for responses to climate changes and the State Council steering committee for energy-saving and emission control Friday.

China will continue to eliminate obsolete capacity in key industries, including 10 million tonnes in iron-making industry, 6 million tonnes in steel industry, and 50 million tonnes in cement industry, said the plan examined at the meeting presided by Premier Wen Jiabao.

The meeting decided to adopt more measures, including stricter energy efficiency and environmental assessments, to control the expansion of industries that consumed excessive energy and discharged pollutants.

The government also called for the promotion of recycling and the use of energy efficient products, including subsidizing purchases of energy-efficient air conditioners, refrigerators and lamps.

Central and local governments would further increase investment in energy efficient projects.

In 2009, such projects are expected to reduce energy consumption equal to 750 million tonnes of standard coal usage. New sewage treatment projects will treat 10 million cubic meters of waste water.

The government would also publicize local government efforts to reduce energy consumption, improve supervision and enhance cooperation with international agencies to develop alternative energies and low-carbon technologies.

The government has set a goal to reduce energy consumption per 10,000 yuan (1,464 US dollars) of gross domestic product (GDP) by 20 percent from 2006 to 2010.

In the three years to 2008, energy consumption per unit of GDP fell 10.1 percent, according to the State Council. That means saving 300 million tonnes of standard coal and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 750 million tonnes.

Emissions of sulfur dioxide in the same period fell 8.95 percent, and chemical oxygen demand (COD), a measure of water pollution, was down 6.61 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2009)