Beijing funds pollution control in neighboring cities

BEIJING - Beijing will spend 460 million yuan ($74 million) this year to help curb pollution in two cities in neighboring Hebei province, according to a pact signed Wednesday.

The fund will be shared 50-50 by Langfang and Baoding cities to help them phase out small-scale coal-fueled boilers, upgrade larger boilers and cut coal consumption by 770,000 tonnes in total, said Zhuang Zhidong, deputy chief of Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau.

According to the joint pollution control pact, Langfang will phase out all small coal-fueled boilers under 10 tonnes, said Zhuang.

Meanwhile, Baoding will phase out at least half of the small-scale coal-fueled boilers in its city proper.

Small boilers are heavy polluters because of their poor efficiency.

"The fund from Beijing was already in place at the end of June and the two cities will complete their boiler revamp by November, when central heating will be supplied to all urban households," said Zhuang.

Wednesday's pact on joint pollution control was part of an interprovincial program for coordinated development between Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and Hebei province.

Parallel with Beijing's move, Tianjin has also earmarked 400 million yuan to support pollution control in Tangshan and Cangzhou cities.

"These six cities are all home to many businesses in iron and steel, thermal power generation and cement manufacturing, where coal consumption and waste emissions are extremely high," said Liu Xin, an official in charge of coordination with Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau.

He said Beijing is liable to exploit its own advantages to boost pollution control in Hebei province. "Such financial support will last for several years to come."