China pledged to strictly control coal-fired plants in major economic zones by various measures in 2014, sources learned from a national meeting work conference concluded on January 14.

To improve air quality in China’s major economic zones, like Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, Yangtze River and Pearl River deltas, China will stop approving self-supported coal-fired projects for new projects and new coal-fired power projects except for combined heat and power generation projects, according to conference.

The government will shut down small thermal generating units with capacity totaling 2 GW, and install desulfurization facilities to all the coal-fired generating units and de-nitrification facilities to 70% of coal-fired generating units.

Meanwhile, raw coal consumption will be cut by 17 million tonnes at four Bohai rim provinces, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong.

Additionally, more stringent auto emission standards will be applied to major cities in these areas.

To ensure power supply in East China, China will accelerate the construction of large coal-fired power bases in western China and West-to-East power transmission projects.