Guangdong's stricter grip over pollutant discharge to affect secondary lead smelters

SHANGHAI, Aug 9 (SMM) – Operations of small secondary lead smelters in Guangdong province are likely to be deterred by stricter provincial control on pollutant discharge from the start of next month. 

Most of such plants, without pollutant discharge permit, are located in north Guangdong. Their combined annual capacity of secondary lead stood at 50,000-70,000 mt, an SMM survey found. 

Local plants that failed to obtain permits from the municipal environmental authorities by September 1 are not allowed to discharge any pollutant, the Guangdong environmental protection bureau announced. 

This move is unlikely to cause much impact on large-scale secondary lead smelters, as they expect to secure green light successfully, SMM learned. Current operations at local small smelters have yet to be affected. 

For industries including petrochemical, agricultural and food processing, ceramic tiles, steel, and non-ferrous metals, the application and issuing work for the pollutant discharge permit should be completed across China by the end of this year, according to a national regulation.