SHANGHAI, Apr 30 (SMM) – China's new, expanded, and relocated steel projects will be subject to the new ultra-low-emission standards, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and other three authorities on Monday April 29. 

The release also pushed rectifications of the existing steel capacity to meet the national ultra-low-emission requirements. At least 60% of the domestic steel capacity should complete the renovation by the end of 2020, and over 80% capacity by the end of 2025, according to the Opinions on Promoting the Implementation of Ultra-Low Emissions Standards in Steel Industry.

Provinces and cities were required to formulate plans for the renovation on local steel sector, and to submit them before the end of July. 

For emissions of sintering machine heads, the hourly average concentration of flue gas with particulate matter should be no higher than 10 mg/m³, that of sulphur dioxide no higher than 35 mg/m³, and nitrogen oxides no higher than 50 mg/m³. 

The hourly average concentration of particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, from other major pollution sources, should be kept not higher than 10 mg/m³, 50 mg/m³, and 200 mg/m³, respectively. 

Steel mills with pollutant emissions 30% lower than the ultra-low-emission level enjoy a 25% cut in the environmental protection tax, and those with emissions below half of the required levels are provided with 50% cuts in the tax.