SMM News
MEE(Ministry of Ecology and Environment) published the ‘Air Pollution Control Action Plan in Jingjinji for 2019~2020 Autumn and Winter’. According to the Plan, from October 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, the average concentration of PM2.5 in Jingjinji region( Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and surrounding areas) is to decrease by 4% y-o-y, and the number of days classified as having severe (or worse) air pollution are to drop by 6% y-o-y.
By the end-December 2019, Hebei is required reduce and phase out: steel capacity by 14 mtpy, coke production capacity 3 mtpy, cement capacity 1 mtpy, plate glass capacity 6.6 mln weight boxes. Shanxi is required to cut steel capacity by 1.75 mtpy and shut coke production capacity by 10 mtpy. Shandong is required to reduce coking capacity by 10.31 mtpy.
Requirements in relation to the aluminum industry include:
1. Shandong and Henan to accelerate the progress of curbing and phasing out carbon-anode capacities under 100 ktpy which are used for aluminium smelting
2. Primary aluminum smelters to accelerate flue gas desulfurization development
3. Implementation of differentiated management in overall and ad-hoc management for environmental emergencies. For the 15 key industries with clear performance indicators, such as iron and steel, coking, alumina, primary aluminum, carbon, etc., an A,B,C grading system shall apply. Producers will be graded by their actual environmental performance and different management measures will apply accordingly. A-grade producers, with production processes, pollution control and emission intensity levels matching the national advanced level, can be exempted from emission reduction liabilities during heavy pollution periods; B grade producers, with key environmental indicators reaching the provincial advanced level, must cut emissions accordingly and moderately. No detailed implementation measures have as yet been announced for C grade producers.
