SHANGHAI, Jan 22 (SMM) – China's top steelmaking city Tangshan, in Hebei province, issued a level II pollution alert effective from CST 18:00 on January 22 to 8:00 on January 25, the city’s environmental authorities said on Tuesday January 22. This came two days after the previous, same-level cut that ended on January 20. 

During the period, sintering machines in steel plants assessed as Categories B and C will have to cut capacity by 50% and 60%, respectively. Sintering machines in Category D mills have to close completely.

Mills in Category A located in urban areas face cutbacks of 40% on their sintering machines, while those located outside the city should cut capacity by 30%, SMM learned. 

Coking duration across coking plants will be extended. From CST 20:00 on January 22 to 8:00 on January 25, transport vehicles are banned from delivering cargoes at ports.