Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

China To Close 2,000 Factories In Energy Crackdown

Posted by Soulskill on from the anti-stimulus dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "The NY Times reports that China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has published a list of 2,087 steel mills, cement works and other energy-intensive factories required to close by September 30 after discussions with provincial and municipal officials to identify industrial operations with outdated, inefficient technology. The goal of the factory closings is 'to enhance the structure of production, heighten the standard of technical capability and international competitiveness and realize a transformation of industry from being big to being strong,' the ministry says. The current Chinese five-year plan calls for using 20 percent less energy this year for each unit of economic output than in 2005 but surging production by heavy industry since last winter has put in question China's ability to meet this target. In addition to the energy-efficiency objective in the current five-year plan, a plan announced by President Hu Jintao late last year called for China to reduce its carbon emissions per unit of economic output by 40 to 45 percent by 2020, compared with 2005 levels."

8 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. Meanwhile, here in the West... by Joce640k · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The $€£ is still king.

    --
    No sig today...
    1. Re:Meanwhile, here in the West... by cosm · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The $€£ is still king.

      Even if this was intended trolling (I don't think it is), it is an insightful point. For as much as American's rag on China as a country and their countless instances of unethical this and that, parent is correct in that here the $€£ really is king. We do not seem to have any vision when it comes to things like alternative energy, reducing our energy consumption, and industrial efficiency. Many, many businesses just keep chugging along, consuming more and more and more energy to make more and more and more money. Read the comments here for a better glimpse. Exponential growth is not sustainable.

      --
      'We are trying to prove ourselves wrong as quickly as possible, because only in that way can we find progress.' RPF
    2. Re:Meanwhile, here in the West... by AlecC · · Score: 5, Insightful

      In the West, the $€£ is king; in China, to a large extent the Party is king. Many of these factories will be extremely inefficient and would have bell closed or replaces long long ago in the West, but have been kept going in China because of the effect on local jobs - especially local party jobs. The power that says that 2000 factories must close because of central policy is the same power that kept them open regardless of whether it was in most people's best interest to do so. Central control works both ways: when the centre is right, it can get things done very fast. But when it is wrong it can get things don, or not done, with equal efficicency. For all its defects, when the market is working properly it is remarkably efficient.

      --
      Consciousness is an illusion caused by an excess of self consciousness.
    3. Re:Meanwhile, here in the West... by mitgib · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What is more plausible is China no longer wishes to buy our bonds. We are seeing this in many countries already, shifting their holdings to the Euro. as fewer are willing to purchase US Treasuries, the higher the interest rate will need to be offered to attract buyers, which in theory would cost the tax payer more, but reality shows it is just the largest ponzi in existence.

      --
      Being a spelling & grammar Nazi is a sign you do not poses the intelligence to contribute to the conversation
  2. Re:So who will be the next China? by delinear · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And no doubt you expect it to 'lead' by eliminating the pesky 'free' part, just as China does.

    Well, signing up to initiatives like Kyoto would at least be a start.

  3. Stupid to leave this to the Chinese. by miffo.swe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Its very shortsighted of us in the west to give this whole area of development to the Chinese. As they get more efficient and starts getting good at using alternative energy we in the west will still fight about oil, coal and other forms of non renewable energy.

    The future lies at the feet of whom have energy in wast amounts. If China wins this race, they win in the long run. I wouldnt be surprised if we end up paying royalties to China for their technology instead. Some politicians cling to the idea that the west will supply the brains and the rest of the world will pay.

    Our greed comes back to bite us over and over.

    --
    HTTP/1.1 400
    1. Re:Stupid to leave this to the Chinese. by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 4, Insightful

      and they even (gasp!) signed the Kyoto protocol the US took a dump on.

      They signed Kyoto because, being a non-Annex I party, they didn't actually have to do anything!

  4. Re:Playing Civ by need4mospd · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Agreed with one exception: In Monopoly, the bank can't win.