MEP published the assessment for the pollutant reduction for the year 2013. In 2013, the reduction percentages of main pollutants compared to the level of 2012 are,

• Chemical oxygen demand: dropped by 2.93% to 23.5 million tonnes;
• NH4: dropped by 3.14% to 2.46 million tonnes;
• Sulfur dioxide: dropped by 3.48% to 20.4 million tonnes;
• Nitrogen oxide: dropped by 4.72% to 22.3 million tonnes.

In 2013, the additional gas consumption arising from “coal to gas” conversion was 2.6 billion cubic meters, which reduced coal usage of 4.9 million tonnes.

NDRC, MoF and MEP also jointly announced that the fees of pollutants discharge will be doubled to encourage emission reduction. By the end of June 2015, all the provinces will have to adjust the pollution charges of SOx and NOx to no less than RMB1.2 per pollution equivalent. The pollutant discharge fee for sewage will be adjusted to no less than RMB1.4 per pollution equivalent, for COD, Ammonia, and five major heavy metals (lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, arsenic).