Recently, a reporter learned at the National Conference on Industrial Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization that in 2014 the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) will organize the implementation of the plan to upgrade industrial water-saving technical standards, study and advance a punitive water pricing policy based on water withdrawal (use) quota standards, and clarify the policy approach and plan. It also required accelerating the organization and compilation of a catalog for phasing out outdated water-use processes and equipment in high-water-consumption industries such as steel and papermaking, and implementing mandatory elimination.

　　At the same time, the reporter learned from representatives of the economic and information technology commissions of Hebei, Shandong and other places attending the meeting that, in order to accelerate technological progress and industrial transformation, various localities are formulating negative lists and differentiated water pricing policies, and high-water-consumption enterprises will face higher water cost.

　　Water Costs for High-Water-Consumption Industries to Rise Sharply

　　Zhou Changyi, director of the Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization of MIIT, said when introducing the main work for 2014 that it is necessary to effectively raise the level of water-saving technology and equipment, promptly issue the national catalog of encouraged industrial water-saving processes, technologies and equipment, and organize their promotion and application; accelerate the organization and compilation of a catalog for phasing out outdated water-use processes and equipment in high-water-consumption industries such as steel and papermaking, and implement mandatory elimination.

　　Zhou Changyi proposed raising the water-use efficiency standards of key enterprises. It is necessary to accelerate the pace of organization and review and promptly issue water-use efficiency standards for key industries.

　　In September 2013, MIIT compiled and issued the Guidelines for Water Use Efficiency in Key Industrial Sectors, publishing water withdrawal indicators per unit of product for high-water-use industries such as thermal power, steel, textiles, papermaking, petrochemicals and chemicals, food and fermentation, and required all regions to guide industrial enterprises in carrying out water-saving benchmarking and compliance, strengthen water-saving technological transformation, and promote the building of water-saving enterprises in light of local and sectoral realities.

　　The reporter learned from the Daily Economic News that at present some provinces and municipalities in China have launched regional water-use efficiency guidelines for key industrial products. Taking Beijing as an example, 34 key products such as integrated circuits and soft drinks have initially been determined to be included in the scope of the guidelines, and enterprise research is currently being carried out.

　　At the same time, in order to effectively encourage high-water-consumption enterprises to actively participate in the building of water-saving enterprises, Zhou Changyi stressed that it is necessary to study and advance a punitive water pricing policy based on water withdrawal (use) quota standards and clarify the policy approach and plan. It is necessary to actively study and organize the drafting of the Measures for the Administration of Industrial Water Conservation and accelerate the establishment of a restraint mechanism for industrial water conservation.

　　It is understood that after punitive electricity pricing was implemented in some high-energy-consumption industries, water costs for high-water-consumption industries will rise sharply. This price-lever measure will be of great significance in promoting industrial water conservation.