Tangshan activates level Ⅱ response to heavy air pollution from Sep 24

SHANGHAI, Sep 24 (SMM) – Tangshan, top steelmaking hub in China, has activated level Ⅱ emergency measures against heavy air pollution from CST 00:00 Tuesday September 24, in synchronisation with Shandong and Handan.

Steelmakers that adopt the blast furnace route and are graded as B and C, are required to suspend their sintering and pelletising machines as well as lime kilns, while grade-C mills face an additional restriction that they need to slash blast furnace capacity by at least 50%.

Other kinds of steel companies such as electric arc furnace steelmakers, producers of sinter and pellets and re-rollers are ordered to close.

Constraints are also imposed on other air pollutant sources including coke plants, foundries, lime kilns, and cement producers, as well as commodity transportation and open-air operations that will produce dust.

It remains unknown when the city will stop implementing the level Ⅱ smog-control measures.