The 2009 MIECF exclusive interview series (1): Government to actively promote energy-saving and emission-reduction works

So as to implement its environmental protection and energy-saving policies and fulfill the emission-reduction commitments made by Macao under the , the MSAR Government will progressively focus on the study of natural gas and ethanol as alternative fuels for vehicles, capitalize on hybrid electric vehicles and research the feasibility of using electric vehicles in Macao in order to reduce vehicle emissions and improve the air quality in the Region. Furthermore, electricity will continue to be generated through natural gas in order to reduce emissions; however, the long-term plan is to promote the use of solar energy to target this problem. Director of the Office for Development of the Energy Sector (GDSE), Mr. Arnaldo Ernesto dos Santos, stated that transportation is one of the main sources of emissions in Macao. For this reason, the MSAR Government has already set up rules for vehicle emissions and restricted the import of two-stroke engine vehicles. On the other hand and in regards to the generation of electricity, after the introduction of natural gas, which is considered to be a clean energy-source, as the fuel for electricity generation in Macao in 2008, the overall emissions from this activity decreased over 30% compared with 2007. Mr. Arnaldo Santos also pointed out that awareness for environmental protection and energy-saving has increased among the international community and that much more attention is being paid to the research, development and usage of clean and new energy sources. Regarding the reduction of motor vehicle emissions, clean fuel is replacing old and dirty fuel sources and reducing vehicle emissions has already become a development trend everywhere. Similarly, Macao must also find and implement suitable alternative fuel sources for vehicles, such as natural gas and ethanol, so as to reduce road traffic vehicle emissions, as well as adopt new technologies like hybrid electric vehicle and research the feasibility of introducing electric vehicles to reduce vehicle emission and improve the air quality in Macao. Moreover, Mr. Santos expressed that improving awareness of energy-saving and emission-reduction amongst the community is very important. For this reason, the GDSE has carried out different kinds of promotional activities and professional training exercises at different levels within the community such as in schools, companies and professional bodies of all levels during the past few years. In addition, the Government has taken the initiative to implement a Government energy-saving plan. Sixty-three Government departments initially implemented this scheme as a test, with the aim of reducing energy consumption by 5%. An average reduction of 4.4% was verified during the first half year, which can be considered a remarkable success. As for energy saving in private companies, the application of energy-saving products will be promoted in the long-term. Energy-saving and the reduction of emissions have become an inevitable trend in global development. The MSAR Government will continue to promote emission-reduction, energy saving, along with environmental protection and social harmony projects in order to ensure sustainable development. The 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF) will be held from the 2nd to the 4th of April. One of the events in this forum will be the “Energy-Saving, Emission-Reduction and Carbon Trading Symposium” in which 8 talks will be given to participants on the latest energy-saving and emission-reduction projects by 8 speakers from China, the European Union, Portugal, Hong Kong and Macao.