China US$125mm on water qualityOver the next 5 yrs US$125MM ... that is going ot trake a LOT of metal! ... zn, fe, cu, etc. Hopefully it balances off expected derease in US consumption, it is clear form the latest home sale/inventary data that they are going down. Recession for Q1/07?
China Spending Billions on Better Water
By GILLIAN WONG Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press
BEIJING — China will spend 1 trillion yuan ($125 billion) to improve water treatment and recycling facilities over the next five years as part of efforts to fight the mounting threat of urban water pollution, officials said Tuesday.
The government hopes to lure more foreign technology and investments to such projects, which are crucial because some 278 cities have no sewage treatment plants, said deputy construction minister Qiu Baoxing.
"In some areas, the worsening water sources, pollution and the frequent water pollution accidents have seriously threatened the water quality," Qiu said at a news conference. "It is imperative for the water suppliers to strengthen relevant measures in response to the situation."
Beijing regards ensuring safe, reliable water supplies as the most urgent environmental issue facing a country where a population of 1.3 billion people compete for supplies with booming industries.
Attention to the problem has been heightened by a string of industrial accidents that poisoned major rivers, forcing several cities to shut down their water systems.
In addition, portions of central China are suffering this summer from their most severe drought in 50 years. Authorities say lack of rain has left 18 million people without adequate drinking water.
China's current water projects include a 500 billion yuan ($60 billion) project to supply its dry north with water from the relatively wet south and renovate 50-year-old water pipe networks, Qiu said.
The government also wants to build water systems that would keep the public supplied with drinking water in case of industrial accidents and to desalinate sea water, he said.
Investment in such projects over the next five years is expected to total 1 trillion yuan, Qiu said.
Beijing wants to raise foreign investment levels in its water industry, which currently stands at only 10 percent, said Zhang Yue, deputy director of the ministry's urban construction department.
"China is opening its markets to encourage more and more foreign companies to participate in the Chinese water sector," Zhang said. He did not give any details.