NDRC's 12 measures to accelerate energy saving

China has launched 12 new measures to accelerate energy saving and emission reduction as the country has been running behind its green schedule for the 12th Five-year Plan (2011-2015).

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planner, on Tuesday published 12 measures to ensure the achievement of these green targets for the year, the Shanghai Securities News reported on Wednesday.

According to the statement released on the NDRC's website, China plans to cut energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by over 3.7 percent by the end of 2013.

The country has to cut energy consumption per unit of GDP by 3.84 percent in the 2013-2015 period, so as to accomplish the established green planning, said the commission.

The NDRC's new measures stressed closing down outdated and excessive production capacity and promoting green products and technology, as well as enhancing supervision, the newspaper said.

The country will strictly control the fast expansion of industries with high energy consumption and pollution emissions and excessive production capacity.

The NDRC, together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Energy Administration, will list companies with overcapacity for steel, cement, electrolytic aluminum, and flat glass industries.

The listed outdated equipment and production lines will be closed down before the end of September and be demolished before the end of December, with location changes prohibited, according to the report.

By doing this, China should weed out outdated production capacity of over 2 million kilowatts of thermal power, 2.63 million tonnes of iron, 7.81 million tonnes of steel, 73.45 million tonnes of cement, 273,000 tonnes of electrolytic aluminum, 45 million tonnes of coal and 14.05 million tonnes of coke in 2013, the report said.

The NDRC urged improvements be made to economic policies to establish a pricing mechanism for oil products and natural gas and implement differential prices of electricity and water.

Meanwhile, the country will continue promoting new energy and green industries with greater support, such as generating hydropower, nuclear power, wind power and solar power of 20 million, 3.35 million, 80 million and 16 million kilowatts, respectively.

The NDRC's measures also demanded further construction of green buildings, energy saving in urban areas and replacement or upgrades of coal-fired boilers.