Cnal News
According to MEE (the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Protection), the overall goal of comprehensive air pollution control for Fenwei Plain area during the 2019~2020 winter period (1st October 2019 to 31st March 2020) is to reduce the average concentration of PM2.5 by 3% y-o-y. The number of days classified as having severe (or worse) air pollution are to drop by 3% y-o-y.
The Fenwei Plain area includes Jinzhong, Yuncheng, Linfen and Luliang in Shanxi, Luoyang, Samenxia in Henan and Xi’an, Xianyang, Baoji, Tongchuan, Weinan and Yangling (including Xixian new district and Hancheng) in Shaanxi.
Specific requirements for the aluminium industry include:
1. Comprehensive control of air pollution shall be intensified in coking, coal washing, alumina, coal mining/dressing and other relevant industries in Jinzhong, Linfen, the borders of Luliang and the Fen River basin – including Lingshi Renyigou and Duanchun town, Shuangchi town in Jiaokou and Huozhou in Shanxi.
2. Primary aluminum smelters are to accelerate flue gas desulfurization development
3. Implementation of differentiated management overall and ad-hoc management in the case of environmental emergencies. For the 15 key industries with clear performance indicators, such as iron and steel, coking, alumina, primary aluminum, carbon, an A,B,C grading system shall apply. Producers will be graded by their environmental performance and different management measures will apply accordingly. A-grade producers, with production processes, pollution control and emission intensity levels matching national advanced levels, can be exempted from emission reduction liabilities during heavy pollution periods. B grade producers, with key environmental indicators reaching provincial advanced levels, must cut emissions accordingly and moderately. No detailed implementation measures have as yet been announced for C grade producers.
