Local governments finally heed Beijing call to hit energy targets

Sep 09, 2010 | 11:37 AM |

China's provincial governments, long lukewarm in their enthusiasm for implementing the central government's industrial policies, now appear to be responding to a clear deadline the end of China's 11th Five-Year Plan.

Many steel and metals producers have been ordered to shut in an unprecedented—and unusually effective—drive for energy efficiency and emissions cuts before China's National Day on Oct. 1.

China has until year-end to meet the target of lowering energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 20 percent from the previous period, having already achieved a 15.6-percent cut in the first four years.

Inspectors have fanned out across the country to check progress on these "achievements," and local governments seem eager to give a good impression.....