By Yu Huapeng (于华鹏)
Economic Observer Online
Sep 22, 2011
Translated by Zhu Na
Original Article: [Chinese]

China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MOEP) has issued new emission standards that will apply to thermal power plants operating in China as of Jan 1 2012. The new standards will further restrict emissions of smoke dust, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants for both new and existing plants.

The thermal power industry will have to increase investment in environmental technology in order to meet the new emission standards.

Data shows that the total emissions of nitrogen oxides nationwide was about 17 million tons in 2009. After the implementation of the new standard, it's estimated that by 2015 emissions of nitrogen oxides via the power-generating sector will to about 6 million tons.

For more details on the new emissions see China Daily's report from earlier this morning or a brief report from Reuters here.