GREATER CHINA

摘要

China has approved the first nationwide oil spill response plan, also known as the oil spill emergency response scheme, to be ready by 2020 (the Scheme). The purpose of the Scheme is to deal with the increasing risks from offshore leakages and to build an emergency response system by 2020. Previously, domestic and international companies in China and the local government have no guidance and procedures to follow in the event of oil spill accidents. According to the State Council of the People's Republic of China, the Scheme will set oil clean-up capacity at 1,000 tonnes (7,300 barrels) within 50 nautical miles from shore and is anticipated to be ready by 2020. The Scheme was introduced to tighten China's environmental rules following several incidents of oil spills in recent years. It is hoped that China will be able to clean up and recycle approximately 10,000 tonnes of spilled oil off the coastal cities.