Crackdown on polluters planned

The government is to impose strict environmental control measures on the Bohai Sea area, shutting down any projects that create pollution, Bloomberg reported. At least 80% of the waste entering the Bohai Sea is to be treated by 2010, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said in a statement, adding that "all offshore oil operators, shipping and port enterprises must prevent oil leakages and waste discharges". The Bohai Sea holds 1.5 billion barrels of oil, which equates to 8% of China's proven reserves, according to the US Department of Energy. PetroChina, the country's largest energy company, is one of the oil producers with exploration stakes in the area.