Clearing the air over China

Title:  China Gas - Textiles_Global version_ENG_050318

Duration: 4:12 minutes

Description:  

Meet Huang who has worked in China’s textile industry for over 20 years. Recently, her employers at the Lanxi Shengyu Towel company switched from coal- to gas-fired boilers. The result? Better working hours, cleaner air and a healthier balance sheet. See why.

[Background music plays]

Traditional Chinese music

[Video footage]

Timelapse of city

GV of city

Exterior of Langxi Shengyu Towel company building

[Voiceover:]

This is the Lanxi Shengyu Towel company, a small textile plant based in Zhejiang, in China.

[Video footage]

GV of factory

Shots of machines at work inside the factory

Huang Suyong at work

[Voiceover:]

Here, over 200 sets of weaving machines produce 1200 tonnes of towels every year.

[Video footage]

Huang Suyong at work

[Voiceover:]

Huang Suyong was 16 when she started working here.

[Video footage]

Employees and machines at work inside the factory

Huang Suyong Interview

[Title]

MS. HUANG SUYONG

WORKER

LANXI SHENGYU TOWEL COMPANY

[Dialogue: Huang Suyong (Subtitled)]

I started in the weaving department, and was later transferred to the drying room.

[Video footage]

Huang Suyong and co-workers working in the factory

Various machines at work inside the factory

[Voiceover:]

She, along with 260 other employees, weave, bleach, print and dye these towels that are exported all over the world.

[Video footage]

Employees and machines at work inside the factory

[Voiceover:]

90% of the Chinese textile and dye industry is concentrated in just five provinces and Zhejiang accounts for nearly half the volume.

[Video footage]

Timelapse of Langxi Shengyu Towel company building exterior

B-roll of coal boilers

[Voiceover:]

This towel company began 20 years ago and used coal boilers to create steam for their machines.

[Video footage]

B-roll of burning coal

Huang Suyong Interview

Employees at work

[Dialogue: Huang Suyong (Subtitled)]

When the coal did not burn well, we would work very late, sometimes till morning. The morning shift would start at 4am.

[Background music ends]

[Background music plays]

Laidback music

[Video footage]

Textile machines and employees at work

Wide shot of grassy area around factory

Shot of pipe network on factory rooftop

[Voiceover:]

But in 2016, the company switched from using coal to natural gas.

[Video footage]

Shot of pipe network on factory rooftop

David Jiang Interview

Employee performing checks on machinery

[Title]

DAVID JIANG

COMPANY OWNER

LANXI SHENGYU TOWEL COMPANY

[Dialogue: David Jiang (Subtitled)]

The government has been encouraging us to reduce emissions and be more environmentally friendly. We also need a cleaner and more stable energy resource to support our production.

[Video footage]

Employee performing checks on machinery

[Voiceover:]

In 2015, Zhejiang had more than 40 thousand coal-fired boilers. The government encouraged a switch to gas to improve air quality, which has brought commercial benefits as well.

[Video footage]

Employee performing checks on machinery

David Jiang Interview

Shots of factory pipe network

Textile machines & employees at work

[Dialogue: David Jiang (Subtitled)]

We need to maintain a steady supply of steam to ensure a steady temperature. If the temperature is too low, we will produce defective goods. This is a major problem. After switching to natural gas, we are able to maintain the temperature. Now we don't have to worry about temperature issues during production but just to focus on the products.

[Video footage]

Textile machines at work

Xiang Hongwu stacking fabrics

Employees working with machinery and fabrics

Xiang Hongwu Interview

[Title]

MR. XIANG HONGWU

PRODUCTION MANAGER

LANXI SHENGYU TOWEL COMPANY

[Dialogue: Xiang Hongwu (Subtitled)]

With the switch to gas, the production rate has increased. We gain a higher degree of recognition from customers. Due to the increase of product quality, customers make fewer returns and complaints. This is good for getting more orders and customers.

[Background music ends]

[Background music plays]

Motivational music

[Video footage]

Shots of factory pipe network

Tiger Shan Interview

Close-up shots of machinery

GV of city

[Title]

TIGER SHAN

PARTNER

PWC STRATEGY&

[Text on screen]

2015 data

In 2017, it is almost 7%

[Dialogue: Tiger Shan (Subtitled)]

We know the proportion of natural gas in China’s primary energy consumption mix is probably less than six per cent. This is a very low percentage. Overall, we think that switching from coal to gas would produce faster and more effective results particularly in textile industry, food industry, ceramic industry, glass industry, etc.

[Video footage]

GV of city

Employees at meeting table

[Voiceover:]

But to use more gas in the energy mix, the country needs the combined efforts of both government and industry.

[Video footage]

Employees at meeting table

David Jiang Interview

Shots of coal boiler

Shots of pipe network

Shots of textile machines

[Dialogue: David Jiang (Subtitled)]

The local government is very supportive of enterprises switching to natural gas. The subsidy to phase out a coal boiler is approximately RMB 40,000 (USD 6,000) for a 1-tonne boiler. Our coal boiler was 4 tonnes so we were compensated approximately RMB 1600,00 (USD 25,000). This monetary compensation was a great incentive and help for our business.

[Video footage]

B-rolls of city

[Voiceover:]

Government and industry initiatives have certainly contributed to more blue skies in China.

[Video footage]

GV of city

Dr. Fu Lu Interview

B-rolls of city

[Title]

DR. FU LU

CHINA DIRECTOR

CLEAN AIR ASIA

[Dialogue: Fu Lu (Subtitled)]

Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is a major component of air pollution. By the end of 2016, we observed that the annual PM2.5 concentration reduced by around 30%. This is a significant improvement.

[Background music ends]

[Background music plays]

Relaxed music

[Video footage]

Huang Suyong riding motorcycle back home

Huang Suyong Interview

Huang Suyong eating with family

[Dialogue: Huang Suyong (Subtitled)]

Now with natural gas, we no longer have to work night shifts. We only take day shifts now. Basically work starts at 8am and finishes at 4.30pm.

[Video footage]

Employees working with machinery and fabrics

Employees at meeting table

David Jiang Interview

Huang Suyong at home with family

General shots of city

Sun setting over city

[Dialogue: David Jiang (Subtitled)]

As a factory owner and a Chinese citizen, we want to see our factories prosper, our workers improve their lives, our community happy, and our country thrive.

[Text displays]

#naturalgas

[Background music ends]