Guangdong will implement round-the-clock online monitoring of 120 polluting companies in the whole province and the results will be used in the companies' credit rankings in environmental protection management.

The credit ranking management system, to be implemented Jan. 1, includes 13 indexes in three categories including pollution control, environmental protection measures and public monitoring.

Those companies who honored the indexes and gained the "green label" will enjoy preferential policies and investments. Those companies who failed the indexes and were punished with the "red label" will receive penalties and frequent inspections.

The 120 companies' sulphur dioxide and COD emissions accounted for more than half of the total emissions.

According to Zhu Quanjie, a department chief of Guangdong Provincial Environmental Protection Administration, all the 120 polluting companies, including coal power plants and sewage plants whose handling capacity reach 10,000 tons of waste water a day will be connected with the administration's computer starting January.

Currently only the companies in Foshan are connected with the administration and online monitoring will be extended to other polluting companies including sugar mills and chemical and textile factories.

Editor: Yan