The Chinese interior ministry has ordered the closure of 10% of the petrol stations in the capital, in an effort to improve Beijing's air quality in view of the upcoming Olympics. The Olympic Committee is threatening to cancel some events, if the air is not clean enough to breathe.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Petrol stations produce too much pollution, so they must adhere to the standards or close by the beginning of summer.  This is stated by a message from the Chinese interior ministry, which yesterday ordered the closing of 10% of the petrol stations in the capital, in an effort to improve the air quality in Beijing in view of the upcoming Olympics.

It was a difficult but necessary decision: millions of vehicles circulate in the city, without having to respect any anti-pollution regulations.  In the same way, the service stations have never had to comply with international standards that require filters in all petrol pumps, to reduce the escape of polluting gases.

Currently, the ministry's investigations have verified that 144 stations will have to be closed.  The others are expected to install filters - costing about 65,000 euro - that will channel the polluting gases from the fuel back into the tanks.

Air pollution is one of the main concerns of the Chinese government, which had assured the International Olympic Committee that it would be able to reduce the high levels of smog in the capital by 2008.

The president of the committee, Jacques Rogge, has raised the possibility (disastrous in terms of public image) of postponing some competitions unless the air quality is improved soon.  According to some government sources, a decree could be released at the end of March that would prohibit the circulation of the most polluting vehicles, about 80% of the total.

• China
• Beijing
• Olympics
• 2008
• air
• pollution
• petrol
• gas
• stations
• closed