- 18 July 2008 -
Chinese Industries Move to
‘Clean House’ in Advance of Olympics

Twenty-four heavily polluting and water-consuming firms have been closed or have had their operations suspended since early last year to ensure clean air during the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, Chinese officials announced earlier this month. These firms produced cement, glass, paper, chemical products, or were involved in casting, printing, dyeing, and electroplating industries. Other hard-hit operations include firms that produce steel and iron ore, and virtually any facility powered by coal.

With the closure of the firms, the energy equivalent of 123,000 tons of standard coal and 3.248 million tons of water will be saved every year. The move will also help reduce exhaust gas emissions by 480 million cubic meters and solid waste by 40,000 tons every year, according to Chinese authorities.

According to Du Shaozhong, vice-director of the Beijing municipal environmental protection bureau, Beijing adopted a policy curbing the operation of high-emission vehicles in urban areas and removing certain government cars from roadways. Shaozhong noted that air quality has been better over the past few days than during the same period of last year—an achievement partly due to the city’s emissions-reduction efforts.

Beijing’s recent moves to improve air quality are a direct result of commitments it made in its bid to host the Olympics. Among the mandates: monitor daily air quality through the collection of data; improve air quality every year; and reach a satisfactory air-quality standard by the beginning of the Games.

These environmental initiatives, however, stand to impact economic conditions in Beijing and other Chinese cities. For instance, Hebei Taihang Cement—the same firm that churned out thousands of tons of cement required to build such venues as the “Bird’s Nest” stadium—will cease operations for two months. Other, broader restrictions are on tap for much of Beijing’s industry. Chinese authorities say the industrial shutdown is likely to extend to an expansive portion of northern China. This includes industrial cities such as Shenyang and the port of Qingdao—locations that will host soccer games and sailing events, respectively.

In addition, Beijing officials have ordered the suspension of construction work and required drivers to abide by an odd/even license plate scheme that allows them to drive only on alternate days. Other vehicle-emission-reduction initiatives entailed the exclusion of approximately 300,000 exhaust-spewing trucks—many of which deliver goods to shops and supermarkets. Some analysts argue that the shutdown could also impact consumers around the world as reduced industrial output, transportation, and deliveries diminish export shipments.

Source: China Daily, Business Week