Jan. 12 – This is a regular series of relevant industry news from around China.

Geothermal power
A meeting between Samoa’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Faumuina Tiatia Liuga, and Chinese Deputy Minister of Commerce, Fu Ziying, discussed a possible cooperation for a project related to geothermal power. Samoa is seeking ways to eliminate its fuel dependency because of high prices.

Solar power
Chinese Photovoltaic (PV) module maker Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. said it had reached one GW solar cell and module production capacity in Wuxi, China. The company’s new headquarters in Wuxi incorporate one MW grid-connected building integrated solar facade.

Air transport
Taiwan will try to boost tourism relations with Japan by launching flights between Taipei Airport and Japan’s Haneda Airport. The country will initiate two daily return flights.

China Eastern Airlines plans to cut the salaries of its executives by 30 percent starting January. According to the company, this does not apply to its general employees.

Passenger numbers of the Macao International Airport declined by 7 million in 2008, to approximately five million. Final destination passenger volume increased 13 percent to around 3.8 million in 2008, compared to the same period of 2007 while transit passengers were 1.3 million, down 39%.

China Southern Airlines has stopped flying between Beijing and Lagos, Nigeria, because of high fuel prices and staff.

China Eastern Airlines reported 5.4 percent less passengers in 2008, at 37.1 million, compared to last year’s 39.16 million. The company named the financial turmoil, change in oil prices as well as the snowstorms and the earthquake, for the decrease.

Hybrid vehicles
SAIC Motor Corporation Limited and its parent company plans to invest RMB6 billion in its hybrid vehicles business in order to achieve their goal of making the companies’ first environmentally-friendly car by 2010.

This industry report brief is courtesy of Aii Data Processing.