Gyeonggi-do to Mandate Use of Low-Emission Construction Equipment Starting Next Year

Gyeonggi Province will mandate the use of construction machinery with completed low-emission measures at all construction sites commissioned by the province and its public institutions to reduce fine dust.

On the 31st, Gyeonggi Province announced that the "Gyeonggi Province Construction Site Noise, Vibration, and Dust Reduction Support Ordinance Amendment," which includes this content, was passed at the 381st plenary session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council held on the 30th.

This ordinance amendment is the first in the nation to establish a legal basis for restricting the use of old construction machinery at government-commissioned construction sites, and it will be promulgated and enforced simultaneously in January next year. The amendment will apply to construction projects commissioned after the enforcement date.

Low-emission measures refer to attaching emission reduction devices or replacing engines with low-emission engines. The old construction machinery subject to low-emission measures includes three types of road vehicles?dump trucks, concrete pump trucks, and concrete mixer trucks?manufactured before 2005 under the emission standards, and two types of non-road vehicles?excavators and forklifts?manufactured under the 2004 emission standards or before December 31, 2003.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Ultrafine dust generated from construction machinery accounts for 18% of the total ultrafine dust emissions in Gyeonggi Province, making it one of the main causes of air pollution. In particular, old construction machinery manufactured before 2004 emits more than 36 times the pollutants compared to recently manufactured machinery.

Using construction machinery with completed low-emission measures is expected to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions by 57% and particulate matter (PM) emissions by 63% compared to old construction machinery.

Along with the enforcement of the ordinance, Gyeonggi Province plans to recommend the use of construction machinery with completed low-emission measures at construction sites commissioned by cities, counties, and public institutions under their jurisdiction.

Cha Seong-su, Director of the Climate Environment and Energy Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Construction machinery, along with diesel vehicles in the transportation sector, is a major source of fine dust emissions. Gyeonggi Province will take the lead in suppressing pollutant emissions at government-commissioned construction sites and do its best to improve air quality."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.