Tangshan to deepen anti-smog production curbs in July

SHANGHAI, Jun 29 (SMM) – A draft plan for air quality control in the top steelmaking hub of Tangshan in July has been released, which is estimated to affect production of molten iron 160,000 mt per day, according to SMM calculations.

This is almost double the estimated affected production under the air quality control plan for June—87,000 mt per day, but the degree of compliance with the curbs is likely to remain low.

Steel mills that are graded C and required to shut some of their sintering machines or blast furnaces in the coming month still maintain normal operations, with some having no idea of the plan at all, showed SMM survey conducted on Monday June 29.

Limited mills complied with the production curbs in June and most of mills were little affected by the restrictions.  

According to the plan for July, steelmakers that are graded A and B on their environmental status will continue to be exempted from production restrictions.