CCTV9英语新闻：Golmud refinery working to meet emission standards

China is now on the front lines of efforts to develop energy sources that can balance the goals of sustaining economic growth and protecting the environment. Decisive action is needed to strengthen policy frameworks across the country to reach that goal. CCTV’s Tang Bo went to a refinery in Northwest China to find out what they're doing to meet the country’s new emission standards.

Preparing for a daily inspection. This is Yan Songshan, who has been working at the Golmud Refinery for 12 years. His job is to ensure the smooth functioning of equipment that removes sulfur from liquefied natural gas.

The process prevents the gas from forming toxics such as sulfur dioxide after it’s burned. That makes for a better environment.

"Before we had this equipment, we could smell hydrogen sulfide and ammonia; toxics that can harm one's health. And, trust me, they do smell really bad. But now thanks to the new environmental protection rules, all petrochemicals we produce will be cleaned. We don’t smell those toxics anymore," Yan said.  

The desulfurization device was first built in 2007, and it was renovated last year. It's part of the environmental protection program by the only refinery on the Tibetan Plateau that processes crude oil. And it highlights China’s continuing efforts on environmental protection.

"I'm shouldering more responsibility now that I'm working with the sulfur-removing device. China has much stricter standards on pollution emissions than before. Flue gas data from our factory is open to the public. The refinery will be closed if the flue gas emissions does not meet the standards," Yan said. 

This is also echoed by Xu Jifeng, head of the production security department at the refinery. He stresses that environmental protection has become a priority from top to bottom at the refinery.

"The area where the refinery is located has a very fragile eco-system. It can't cope with any pollution. So although the sulfur-removing device has never brought any economic benefit to the refinery, it will remain as long as it’s for the good of the environment," Xu said.

The refinery isn't finished adapting to the newly released national pollutant emission standards which were enacted at the end of last year.

The newly revised Environmental Protection Law means tougher supervision of enterprises' pollutant emission, something Xu and everyone at the refinery has taken note of.

Xu adds that the refinery will develop new technologies to better treat flue gas, wasted water and solids in the future.

The flue gas desulfurization device forms part of an array of environmental protection equipment in place at the refinery where all waste by-products now meet national pollutant emission standards. The investment proves the determination of the factory to take responsibility in helping to build an environmentally friendly society in the region.