Restructuring speeds up in Tangshan

SteelOrbis Shanghai Tangshan Steel Industry Restructuring Plan recalls for the acceleration of restructuring in the city in 2006. According to the plan, there are many small scale iron and steel companies in Tangshan, Hebei Province. Tangshan Steel, Guofeng Steel, Jianlong Steel and Jinxi Steel, the major steelmakers in the city, are expected to increase their capacities through acquiring smaller establishments, while also getting rid of the outdated production capacity. In consequence, it is planned to reduce the number of iron and steel companies in Tangshan to 20, and to keep the production capacity at slightly over 1.5 million metric tons. The term “outdated” refers to the blast furnaces and converters that are smaller than 200 cubic meters and 20 metric tons respectively. Nevertheless, the blast furnaces with less than 300 cubic meters will either be shut down, or developed. The plan is mainly required to reduce energy, water and coal consumption.