o Province to invest \92.8 billion in reducing air pollution next year 

Gyeonggi-do will invest \92.8 billion (cost burden to be shared equally between national and local governments) in the Automobile Gas Emission Reduction Project in 2005, to more readily combat the serious problem of air pollution. 

Automobile gas emissions are known to be the biggest source of air pollution in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. The project will spearhead the installation of catalytic converters in 22,130 commercial vehicles in 2005, while also moving ahead with the engine remodeling and disposal of superannuated automobiles. 

The province will offer full subsidies for the cost of engine remodeling and catalytic converter installation on local commercial vehicles. Fifty percent of the appraisal price of disposed superannuated automobiles will be offered to participating businesses. 

The project has already invested \3 billion this year, in a trial run of engine remodeling and catalytic converter installation for 730 provincial automobiles in various cities across Gyeonggi-do. 

The unit cost of engine remodeling costs \5 million, and the unit cost for catalytic converter installation ranges between \1 million and \7 million based on the vehicle size. 

The switch to an LPG engine lowers pollutant emissions by 60% while significantly cutting down on noise. A catalytic converter can cut pollutant emissions by 30~ 80%. 

A civil officer from the province stated, “Gyeonggi-do will continue its efforts in the Automobile Gas Emission Reduction Project to create a better living environment for local residents by reducing air pollution.”