According to the government of Shandong Province in China, during China's 12th five-year plan period (2011-15) the total annual steel production capacity of the province will be reduced by more than 10 million mt, to below 50 million mt.
In particular, by the end of the period in question the aggregate steel production capacity in the coastal regions of Shandong Province will account for over 43 percent of total steel output capacity in the province. In addition, during the 12th five-year plan period the number of steel smelting enterprises in the province is expected to be reduced from 21 down to five or six. Also, over the same period, the comprehensive energy consumption per metric ton of crude steel produced in the province will be reduced by 3.9 percent, while sulphur dioxide discharge per metric ton of crude steel will be cut by 47.4 percent.