Practical, effective and practical

outline：On November 28, the Prefectural Party Committee and the Prefectural People’s Government convened a field promotion meeting in Nanuo Mountain, Gelanghe Township, Menghai County, to advance the 2016 prefecture-wide initiative of replacing firewood with liquefied petroleum gas in rural tea production.

To strengthen the protection of forest resources, accelerate the development of clean energy in rural areas, and promote ecological civilization, on November 28, the Prefectural Party Committee and the Prefectural People’s Government convened a field promotion meeting in Nanluo Mountain, Gelanghe Township, Menghai County, to advance the 2016 prefecture-wide initiative of replacing firewood with liquefied petroleum gas for tea production in rural areas.

 

Conference Venue

Attending the meeting were Yang Sha, Chairman of the Prefecture Political Consultative Conference; Huang Zhigao, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Prefecture People’s Congress; Li Zhongjian, Vice Governor of the Prefecture People’s Government; heads of the Prefecture Forestry Bureau, Prefecture Finance Bureau, Prefecture Development and Reform Commission, Prefecture Science and Technology Bureau, as well as the governments of all counties (cities) and other relevant departments; in addition, leaders from the Xishuangbanna Petrochemical Group also attended the on-site meeting.

Attendees现场 observed the operation of traditional wood-fired manual fixation, liquefied petroleum gas–powered drum-type fixation machines, and fixation furnaces for tea processing, and heard from tea farmers and enterprises about their experience using LPG in tea production. Participants then engaged in discussions on how to promote and expand the use of LPG as a substitute for firewood in tea processing. They agreed that the initiative to replace firewood with LPG in tea production is a major policy decision by the Prefectural Party Committee and the Prefectural Government, and that it represents an important measure for significantly reducing low-value forest resource consumption in rural areas, improving farmers’ quality of life, and enhancing the rural ecological environment. According to available information, as of November 21, a total of 4,065 fixation furnaces and 252 drum-type fixation machines had been installed and put into use across the prefecture, representing 54.4% of the annual target.

Attendees observed liquefied petroleum gas withering equipment.

 

 

Viewing finished tea leaves processed by fire-drying and liquefied gas drying

Following the on-site observation, the on-site promotion meeting was held. At the meeting, Chairman Yang Sha emphasized that our prefecture’s abundant forest resources and favorable ecological environment represent its greatest resource advantage and serve as a crucial foundation for achieving comprehensive economic and social development, ecological civilization construction, scientific development, and sustainable development. All levels and departments must strengthen their awareness of forest resource protection, set exemplary standards, and intensify publicity efforts to ensure the sustained development of our ecological base. Only by cherishing our existing forest resources can we better develop productive forces. We must align our thinking and understanding with the specific arrangements made by the Prefectural Party Committee and the Prefectural Government, further enhancing our recognition of the importance and urgency of replacing traditional firewood with liquefied petroleum gas in tea production. Vigorously developing clean energy—specifically, substituting liquefied petroleum gas for traditional firewood in tea processing—is tantamount to protecting the ecosystem and advancing ecological civilization, green development, circular development, and low-carbon development. All counties, cities, and departments must further reinforce accountability, accelerate implementation, and rigorously ensure that all targets and tasks are completed on schedule, to the required quality, and in the prescribed quantities. It is also essential to improve supporting mechanisms to guarantee effective protection of forest resources, strengthen leadership oversight and inspection, and further ensure that this work is effectively carried out.

 

In his address, Vice Governor Li Zhongjian urged all counties and county-level cities to strengthen leadership, ensure the effective implementation of all related tasks, and foster a stronger sense of urgency and responsibility in promoting the initiative. He emphasized the need to play a proactive role in comprehensively coordinating and organizing the promotion efforts. All townships and farm management committees were instructed to intensify their learning and gain a deeper understanding of the conditions at the prefectural, county, and township levels; to standardize work procedures; and, among enterprises and households already using liquefied petroleum gas for tea production, to promptly refine safety management systems, step up publicity and education on safe gas usage, and strictly adhere to operating procedures and regulations, thereby ensuring that liquefied petroleum gas is handled with absolute safety throughout transportation, use, storage, and management. Furthermore, it is essential to cultivate a positive public opinion environment and enhance publicity efforts: all county and city governments, townships, and farm management committees must ensure that this initiative is effectively communicated to every household, while also increasing the frequency of briefings and information reporting. Finally, performance assessments should be strengthened, oversight and inspection intensified, and all efforts made to fully advance the promotion of replacing firewood with liquefied petroleum gas in tea production.

       

Liu Tianwei, Chairman of the Xishuangbanna Petrochemical Group, stated: “The successful implementation of the liquefied petroleum gas-for-firewood substitution project is inextricably linked to the high level of attention it has received from the Prefectural Party Committee and the Prefectural Government. This initiative is also a crucial step for our prefecture in gradually transforming traditional, backward rural production and lifestyle patterns, enhancing ecological conservation awareness, jointly protecting the tropical rainforest, and building a beautiful home. For more than two decades, the Xishuangbanna Petrochemical Group has been committed to promoting and using clean energy. In this project, the Group will actively cooperate with the offices of project leading groups at all levels, further improve its internal systems, increase investment, and conscientiously carry out its assigned tasks in accordance with the established plan. We hope that through continuous efforts, the mountains of Xishuangbanna will become greener, the waters clearer, the skies bluer, and the lives of local residents even better.”

At the meeting, the Prefectural Forestry Bureau and the Prefectural Science and Technology Bureau provided briefings on the progress of promoting the use of liquefied petroleum gas as a substitute for firewood in tea production across rural areas of the prefecture, as well as on the quality of the tea produced. Heads of the people’s governments of various counties and cities then delivered statements expressing their commitment to advancing these initiatives.