Xuzhou Shuts Down Steel Production for Two More Weeks to Tackle Pollution
Zhang Yushuo
DATE:  Dec 14 2018
/ SOURCE:  yicai
Xuzhou Shuts Down Steel Production for Two More Weeks to Tackle Pollution Xuzhou Shuts Down Steel Production for Two More Weeks to Tackle Pollution

(Yicai Global) Dec. 14 -- Xuzhou, an eastern Chinese city renowned for its heavy industry, is again shutting down all steel production for at least half a month in order to combat smog.

Only three steel mills in the city had been operating as normal before the ban, reported SMM, a non-ferrous metal information provider. Jinhong Iron and Steel Group stopped production on Dec. 12, Huahong Special Steel spoke with authorities yesterday about the suspension and Southeast Steel Industry is awaiting notice and will likely halt production in a few days, the report added.

Xuzhou, in Jiangsu province, had 19 steel mills and churned around 3 percent of the country's iron and steel last year, but the provincial government outlawed production in April this year in a bid to improve air quality.

The Jiangsu environmental protection inspection team set up shop in Xuzhou to hold meetings regarding smog control, and issued an air pollution control plan, which included forcing companies in the steel, coking, thermal power and other sectors to clean up their act or risk closure at the mid-year mark.

The crackdown closed seven steel companies and nine mills were made to relocate. The 12 remaining firms resumed production in August, but had slashed output by around three million tons a year.

Editor: James Boynton

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Keywords:   Steel Production,Pollution