Displaying items by tag: Hebei
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology sets timetable to eliminate out-dated cement production capacity
05 March 2014China: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has set a timetable for eliminating out-dated cement plants. The MIIT has requested that local governments in China work out structural adjustment plans for the cement industry before the end of March 2014 and propose detailed treatment measures towards on-going and finished contravening cement projects before the end of June 2014, according to the Xinhua Chinese news agency.
Hebei province has been asked to cut its cement production capacity by 60Mt/yr by 2017. Jiangsu province is to cut its production capacity by 10Mt/yr and Jiangxi province must cut its capacity by 5Mt/yr. The MIIT expects that cement production utilisation will be improved to over 75% by the end 2017 after the cement industry follows its measures. Emissions of dust and nitrogen oxide will be cut by more than 40% and the cement industry's average profit margin should be no less than the manufacturing industry's average.
17 more cement plants bite the dust in Hebei
18 February 2014China: The demolition of 17 more cement plants in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, began on 17 February 2014, two months after the first batch of demolitions to improve air quality.
"After the second batch of demolitions is finished in March 2014, we can meet the target of reducing excess capacity three years ahead of schedule, reducing production capacity by 40%," said Wang Liang, the mayor of Shijiazhuang. Hebei was hit by many smoggy days in February 2014, causing serious pollution. On 17 February 2014 the air quality index exceeded 200, classed as 'very unhealthy' by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The demolition of 18 cement grinders and 377 storage bins at the 17 plants will be completed by the end of March 2014, reducing production capacity by 9.1Mt/yr.
To control pollution, the provincial government has announced goals for cutting excess capacity in high-polluting industries, including cement production, in every city. Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital, must dismantle 15Mt/yr of cement production capacity by 2017.
The two batches of demolitions have targeted 35 plants, resulting in direct economic losses of US$180m and affecting 3780 workers. "We may suffer slow economic growth in the short term, but this will work in upgrading the economic structure and will result in a good living environment for our people, so it is worthwhile," said Sun Ruibin, Party chief of Shijiazhuang.
Wang Jiangtao, marketing manager at Yuancheng Construction Material Co, one of plants being demolished in the city of Luquan, said, "We will follow the government project and want to control air pollution as well so we agreed to close the plant. But it's still sad to see the plants being demolished," he said, adding that the company had invested more than US$4.94m in a new system in 2011. "We have not made enough money to cover the expenses up to now." Under government compensation plans, the plant may get US$1.65m and will receive other support for its future business, including preferential policies and tax relief, Wang added.
Two of Jinyu Dingxing Cement Co's plants were among the first batch of demolitions in December 2013, but so far new projects have not been decided on, said Feng Jinmin, a manager at one of the two plants that were closed. "Of the US$2.47m in compensation expected from the government, we have received half and are still awaiting government guidance on our future business," he said, adding that this may take years.
Demolition of 18 cement plants in Hebei starts
18 December 2013China: Shijiazhuang, Hebei province has started the demolition of its first batch of 18 cement plants on 17 December 2013 to fight air pollution. 74 cement plants in the suburbs of Shijiazhuang are targeted for deconstruction by March 2014 according to China Daily. The planned demolition is planned to include all the western areas of the city by 2017.
"The cement companies have been a major source of dust pollution, making them a priority for demolition," said Niu Yongzhi, the official from the Bureau of Industry and Information in Shijiazhuang who is in charge of the project.
Demolition of the first 18 cement plants will be completed in January 2014. Removal of these cement units is expected to significantly reduce dust and nitrogen oxides emissions. More than 3500 cement plant employees will lose their jobs in the demolition.
The government will pay compensation to the companies whose plants are being shut down. Seven plants in Pingshan county will receive an average of US$1.5m each and tax breaks will be given to the companies when they start other businesses. The other 11 cement plants in Luquan will receive similar compensation.
The 18 cement plants, scattered throughout the northwestern area of Shijiazhuang produce 9.4Mt/yr or about 21% of the city's annual output. By 2014 cement production capacity in Hebei will drop to 61Mt/yr, half of the province's cement production in 2012.