Shandong Province-based Chinese steel producer Minyuan Steel Co. has been fined RMB 1.5 million ($0.24 million) due to excessive emissions from its facilities, as reported by local newspaper Jinan Daily on March 11. Previously, on January 23 this year, Minyuan Steel was fined RMB 100,000 ($15,974) by environmental protection authorities in Jinan as dust density from its sintering machine No. 2 exceeded the permitted levels.
On February 27, the steelmaker's dust density levels were again found to be higher than the permitted levels, leading to the imposition of the latest fine. An official at Minyuan Steel stated that the company has invested RMB 30 million ($4.8 million) in upgrading environmental protection equipment.