 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
China Lowers Target For Renewable Energy
Beijing (AFP) Oct 26, 2006 China has lowered its goal for renewable energy production but its targeted investment of 1.5 trillion yuan (187 billion dollars) in the sector remains unchanged, state press reported Thursday. The target of 20 percent renewable energy sources by 2020 has been cut to 16 percent, the China Daily said, citing Wu Guihui, a leading energy official at the ministry-level National Development and Reform Commission. Over the next 15 years, China will invest 1.5 trillion yuan in renewable energy resources, with the construction of hydro-electric dams leading the way, Wu said. Currently 7.5 percent of China's energy comes from renewable sources, with the government hoping to raise this to 10 percent by 2010, the newspaper said. The newspaper did not say why the target of 20 percent was being reduced. Up to 70 percent of China's energy is produced by burning coal which has led to devastating environmental consequences with Chinese cities among the most polluted in the world. Under the renewables plan, which is still being formulated, hydro-electric power output will increase from the current 117 million kilowatts to 190 million in 2010 and 300 million by 2020, Wu said. "Two thirds of water resources remain unexploited," Wu said, who added howerver that "in the hydro-power sector, we are facing challenges including environmental protection and the relocation of residents (from dam areas)." Wu said China will also actively develop wind and solar energy, as well as biomass in an effort to meet the targets. "We have been hearing that the government is changing the goals for renewable energy from anywhere between 10 and 20 percent," Yang Ailun, a renewable energy expert at Greenpeace China told AFP. "Until it is written down in a formal docuement it is likely that the goal will change again." China has a poor track record in implementing its environmental targets, she said. A target this year to reduce the amount of energy used per unit of gross domestic product by 4.0 percent is unlikely to be realized, a leading energy official said in August.
Source: Agence France-Presse Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
Russia Threatens Shell-Led Energy Group With Criminal Charges
Moscow (AFP) Oct 25, 2006Russia turned up the heat on a giant Shell-led oil and gas project off Russia's Pacific coast Wednesday, threatening possible criminal prosecutions and license withdrawal over environmental violations. "Violations at Sakhalin-2 concern at least five articles of the criminal code," Natural Resources Minister Yury Trutnev was quoted by ITAR-TASS as saying during a trip to the far east island of Sakhalin, where an environmental commission has been inspecting the massive project. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
