Ten thermal power plants across China had been fined for attempting to evade supervision of their sulphur emissions, said the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on July 15.
Penalties totaling 519 million yuan ($83.66 million) were handed down after investigations into the operation of sulfur-removal devices in coal-fired plants, according to the NDRC.
The commission said that some thermal plants were found to have deliberately shut down their sulfur-removal devices to reduce costs or avoid pollution monitoring.
To try to bring air pollution under control, China encourages coal-fired power generators to install devices to remove sulfur and other pollutants. Plants equipped with such devices receive government subsidies and are allowed to sell their electricity at higher prices.
Among those punished, Yangcheng International Power Generation, a Shanxi-based Sino-U.S. joint venture, faced subsidy cuts or fines to the tune of 125.6 million yuan ($20.25 million). |