Shandong to activate emergency level Ⅱ response to heavy air pollution from Sep 24

SHANGHAI, Sep 23 (SMM) – Thirteen cities of east China’s coastal province, Shandong, will begin to implement level Ⅱ emergency measures against heavy air pollution from September 24, in anticipation of a widespread, severe pollution during September 25-29.

Those cities including Jinan, Zibo, Weifang and Linyi, activated the orange-level alert at CST 00:00 Monday September 23.

SMM learned that steelmakers across the region have started production curtailments.

A mill has suspended two rolling lines, which equates to a 20% cut in its production. Another mill has stopped one of its two blast furnaces, all its rolling lines and sintering machines, and the closure is expected to last for 14 days.

Another mill told SMM that it will suspend two blast furnaces from September 24, which equates to a capacity cut of 40%. It plans to procure billets to cushion the impact on rolling production.

This round of production restrictions, meanwhile, will have limited impact on construction, a consumer of steel, as only stages that will produce dust pollution are banned.

SMM expects steel production curbs and stockpiling ahead of the week-long National Day holiday to remain supportive of spot steel prices.