Policy Digest

Measures sought on recycling of NEV batteries

China is working to create measures to better manage the recycling of batteries used by new energy vehicles, an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Huang Libin, director-general of the ministry's Department of Energy Conservation and Resources Comprehensive Utilization, said the move is part of the efforts to promote green, low-carbon and circular industrial development.

Huang said that with the rapid development of the NEV industry, the number of returned power batteries is increasing yearly. The recycling of batteries is important for protecting the environment, improving the efficiency of resource utilization and ensuring the sustainable and sound development of the industry, he said.

Statistics showed that by the end of last month, more than 190 companies had set up 10,235 recycling outlets across the country. So far, 38,500 companies involved in the recycling of batteries have been established in China.

According to Huang, the ministry will step up efforts to introduce a slew of national and industrial standards on the recycling of batteries, continue to carry out existing supervision over the industry and help cultivate more leading enterprises in the NEV industry.

Smart transportation pilot programs approved

The Ministry of Transport has approved the first round of 18 pilot programs for smart transportation services, in a move to promote technological innovation in the transportation sector, according to a notice published on Sept 14.

The programs, which will focus on self-driving and intelligent shipping technologies, will feature trials and demonstrations. Tests will include the autonomous transportation of goods on roads, urban logistics and delivery and intelligent navigation along seas or rivers, the notice said.

The efforts are aimed at finding ways to promote the in-depth integration of the new generation of information technology with transportation.

The ministry will supervise the pilot programs and assess their performance. It is hoped that a slew of technical guides and standards will be formulated as a result of the pilot work, and that the experience gained can be applied to other areas.

Efforts to improve drinking water quality on tap

China will work to improve the quality of drinking water for urban residents, according to a notice published by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and two other departments on Sept 13.

Starting on April 1, standards for drinking water quality will be fully applied to the national urban drinking water supply, it said.

By 2025, a whole-process system to guarantee the urban water supply will be established, along with an emergency system.

To that end, the notice required greater efforts to build and renovate water supply pipelines, emphasizing that the renovation of old, worn pipes must be accelerated.

It also stressed efforts to reduce leakages in public water supply pipes by adopting measures such as pressure control to ensure the energy-saving operation of pipelines, while at the same time meeting requirements for water quality.