Shandong’s Liaocheng has activated level I anti-smog response

SHANGHAI, Dec 20 (SMM) – Liaocheng of east China’s Shandong province began to implement level I response to heavy smog this morning, requiring heavy industries, except for those graded as A-level on environmental status, to deepen production cuts.

This came after the city issued a red alert, the highest in Beijing’s three-tier warning system, on late Thursday as weather forecasts showed that heavy smog would probably strike the city in the week ahead.

This is unlikely to impact primary aluminium producers in the city, including Xinfa Group’s plants and Liaocheng Xinyuan Group’s facilities, as they meet the A-level for standards on techniques, pollution treatment and emissions, according to the list from Liaocheng’s industry bureau released in November.

Yanggu Xiangguang Copper and Chiping Xinyuan Carbon are also grade-A companies.

Xinfa’s alumina refinery, with capacity of 3 million mt/year, however, will have to deepen production cut to 50%, as it is categorised as C-level. Grade-B alumina refineries in the city will face a production cut of 30%.