'Wasteful' 4x4s banned

2007-11-23 13:03

Beijing - Chinese officials have been told to turn down the thermostat, use less water and shun gas-guzzling vehicles as part of an energy saving campaign, an official newspaper said on Thursday.

As northern China's harsh winter sets in, government and Communist Party offices have been ordered to set an example for the nation in saving water and energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to the party mouthpiece People's Daily.

"With international oil prices constantly rising and ceaseless increases in domestic demand for oil, party and government organs face a grim aspect for conservation and emission reductions," the paper said.

Government and party offices must keep temperatures below 21°C, use energy-conserving elevators, and reduce use of electric kettles outside working hours, the article said.

Officials should purchase only fuel-efficient cars with manual transmissions and shun the wasteful 4x4s favoured by many as a sign of power and prestige, it said.

"Unless there are special requirements, in principle, there should be no assigning of off-road vehicles," the article said. Officials were also strictly forbidden from using publicly owned vehicles for private use, the article said.

China is the world's second-biggest oil consumer and the country's low-efficiency industries have been heavy-hit by the global spike in prices.

The government recently raised diesel and gasoline prices by about 10% to curb demand at a time when refiners say they are losing money due to controls that block them from passing on record-high crude costs to consumers.

China's two main oil companies have promised to step up diesel production following two weeks of shortages blamed on price controls that have disrupted trucking and caused long lines at filling stations.

Even after the increase, China's prices are among the lowest of any major country at about 84 US cents per litre for petrol and 71 US cents per litre for diesel.

- AP