China closed 83 small coal-fired generators with an aggregate capacity of 4.7 million kilowatts during the first three and half months of this year, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Friday.

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

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

Energy-efficient plants accounted for 58.9 percent of the coal-fired generation facilities as of the end of 2007, up from 43.4 percent in 2003.

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

At the end of 2007, total installed generation capacity was 713 million kw, including 145 million kw from hydroelectric plants.

(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2008)