|
Effort to promote energy saving
By Fu Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-04 09:26 Do not leave your TVs on standby and go out, do
not set air conditioners on extremely low temperatures and forget about
energy-sapping projects.
The dos and don'ts guidelines from the Chinese Government run long and are
designed to involve families,organizations and factories nationwide in an annual
energy-saving campaign.
The State Council has decided to launch the week-long campaign on Sunday,
hoping to avoid the widespread electricity shortages this summer that plagued
the country last year.
The event is part of a three-year national campaign to save and promote the
effective use of major resources so sustainable economic and social development
can be maintained.
Earlier this month, the State Council called on all localities to join the
effort to make effective use of resources such as electricity,raw materials,
water and land.
"Electricity shortages have become a major factor holding back economic and
social development," Zhao Jiarong, department chief of National Development and
Reform Commission told Thursday's news conference.
At present, more than 70 per cent of China's provinces and autonomous regions
have been suffering from electricity shortages, and officials fear such problems
will be worse than last year when more than half of the nation was similarly
affected.
Zhao's commission predicted earlier this year that China's power consumption
would grow by 11 per cent year-on-year to 2.1 trillion kilowatt hours this year.
The generating capacity, however, is expected to increase by only 9.6 per cent
year-on-year, or 37,200 megawatts.
The commission said electricity prices in peak periods should be jolted
upward to decrease power consumption and encourage use during non-peak times.
Residents will not pay more for power this year.
"To improve generating capacity is one thing, and the whole of society should
not ignore energy-saving practices," said Zhao.
|
