The Asian Infrastructure1 Investment Bank (AIIB) signed a natural gas project with a Chinese company Monday to improve the air quality in Beijing.
亚洲基础设施投资银行与中国一家公司签署一份天然气协议以改善北京空气质量。
"It is the common responsibility of the international community, including multilateral development banks, to tackle climate change. With substantial support of the board of directors of the AIIB, this project hopes to contribute to meet this global agenda," AIIB President Jin Liqun said at the signing ceremony.
It marks the AIIB's first loan in China for a natural gas project. The 250-million-U.S. dollar loan will fund a project to connect 216,750 households in approximately 510 villages to the natural gas distribution network.
Upon completion and after subtracting the
emissions2 from burning natural gas, the project is expected to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 595,700 tonnes,
particulate4 matter by 3,700 tonnes,
sulfur5 dioxide by 1,488 tonnes and nitrogen
oxide3 by 4,442 tonnes, according to the statement.
The project, undertaken by the Beijing Gas Group Company, will
entail6 construction of natural gas distribution networks in villages and low-pressure gas
pipelines7 and household connections.