US experts have suggested that China's air pollution controls should start with caps on the sulfur dioxide emissions of coal power stations.

The air in nearly half of China's cities is heavily polluted, according to the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).

SEPA Deputy Director Zhang Lijun told an international seminar on air quality management in Beijing yesterday that in most cities with a population of more than one million, the levels of sulfur dioxide and particulates in the air far exceed the national standard.

To tackle the problem, US researchers have suggested started with coal power plants.

"Coal-fired power plants are major sources of sulfur dioxide, and it would be a good idea to start with them in the air pollution control campaign," said John Chang, team leader of indoor air research with the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Chang and 65 other US experts were in Beijing attending the Seventh Sino-US Technology and Engineering Conference. They also visited two demonstration power plants fitted with advanced desulfurization facilities.

"We were told that more coal-fired power plants would install desulfurization equipment," Chang said. "The government is determined to control air pollution, but the key will be whether these power plants permanently adopt the equipment."

The government plans to cap sulfur dioxide emissions at 23 million tons by 2010, according to its 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), which maps out social and economic development over the next five years.

Coal-fired power plants alone emit more than 60 per cent of the total sulfur dioxide pollution, with SEPA statistics showing that 16 million tons out of the total 25.5 million tons of sulfur dioxide was emitted by coal power stations.

Chang pointed out that China currently lacks a system of monitoring and meting out rewards and punishment in relation to power stations.

(China Daily October 25, 2006)