Hebei raises steel capacity cuts for 2019

SHANGHAI, Jan 15 (SMM) – The government of Hebei, China’s top steelmaking province, targeted the removal of all steel mills from Zhangjiakou and Langfang city in 2019, announced at the second session of the province's 13th National People's Congress on Monday January 14.

Baoding city was the first city in Hebei that was declared free of steel production in November 2017.

In 2018, Hebei cut 12.3 million mt of steel capacity, 14.01 million mt of coal, 3.13 million mt of cement, 5.17 million mt of coke and 550,000 kilowatts of thermal power and eliminated all loss-making steel enterprises (zombie mills).

"Our province will strictly enforce environmental protection, energy consumption, technology and other standards to withdraw overcapacity from the market," said provincial governor, Xu Qin.

Xu added that Hebei will continue its efforts in reducing overcapacity in 2019. It planned to cut 14 million mt of steel capacity, 10 million mt of coal, 1 million mt of cement, 3 million mt of coke and 500,000 kilowatts of thermal power.