A 60-meter coal-fired chimney located in the northern suburbs of Karamay, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region was demolished on Aug 22, making way for the city to become less reliant on coal energy.

In the chimney’s place, a series of environment friendly gas-fired boilers are expected to come into operation. The measures are being carried out in a concerted effort by the Karamay government to reduce air pollution and ensure a better environment for both people today and tomorrow.

The new heating system will help to reduce 30,000 tons coal being burnt and significantly reduce sulfur dioxide emissions, a major component of acid rain and air pollution, produced from burning coals.

Karamay Heat Supply Company owns 17 boiler plants and supplies heating to an area of 12 million square meters. The company has been taking actions reduce the sulfur emissions of its coal-fired boilers and tear down boiler plants in recent years, according Jin Hu, deputy manager of the company.

Jin said, “We are trying to build heating stations with bigger capacity and we will continue to close surrounding coal-fired boilers.”

A coal-fired chimney is demolished in Karamay on Aug 22. Photo/kelamayi.com.cn]

Edited by Owen Fishwick