The city of Tangshan, a major steel production hub in China, will require local steel enterprises to implement production restrictions in four stages during the National Day holiday and autumn-winter season, according to reports circulating in the Tangshan market though no official notice has yet been received by steelmakers.
During a ‘special stage’, from September 24 to September 30, blast furnaces will have to reduce production by 50 percent or more, with sintering machines, shaft furnaces and lime kilns suspending production completely.
During the ‘first stage’, from October 1 to November 14, blast furnaces, sintering machines, shaft furnaces and lime kilns will have to reduce production by 50 percent. During days of strong atmospheric pollution in this period, blast furnaces will still have to reduce capacity by 50 percent, while sintering machines and shaft furnaces will have to suspend production for five days, and later resume 50 percent output reduction, while lime kilns will have to suspend production completely during days of strong atmospheric pollution.
During the ‘second stage’, from November 15 to March 15, blast furnaces, sintering machines, shaft furnaces and lime kilns will have to reduce production based on the official categories of C1, C2 and C3. During days of strong atmospheric pollution, blast furnaces will still have to reduce production by 50 percent, while sintering machines and shaft furnaces will have to suspend production for five days, and later implement a 50 percent production cut, with lime kilns suspending production completely during times of strong pollution.
Finally, from March 15 to 31, during days of strong atmospheric pollution, sintering machines and shaft furnaces of category C steel enterprises will have to suspend production for five days and later implement a 50 percent capacity restriction, while blast furnaces will have to reduce production by 50 percent and lime kilns will have to suspend production completely.