Songtao manganese plants to resume production early Jul

SHANGHAI, Jul 3 (SMM) – Manganese producers in Songtao county, Guizhou province are likely to resume production in early July after they failed to resume as scheduled in late June as inspections were incomplete. 

Only one producer resumed operation after inspection, but was suspended again on June 29, SMM learned.  On June 29, the Songtao environmental bureau ordered 10 local plants that were already suspended, to cut electricity supplies. This also indicated that the government is clamping down on environmental violations.

The local government shut all manganese plants and some parts of mines in Songtao on June 1 after pollution woes put the Songtao area under the spotlight last week.

Producers have to undergo rectification, inspection, and acceptance checks by local authorities, SMM learned from some market participants. SMM also learned that most plants have completed rectifications. 

Songtao's daily output of manganese stood at 400 mt, about 10% of China's total output per day.