The municipal government of Tangshan in China’s Hebei Province has announced that, due to anticipated increases in air pollution, it has decided to implement strict emergency response measures (level Ⅱ) effective from 8:00 on October 31. The termination of the measures will be announced separately.
In particular, sintering and pelletizing machines belonging to categories B and C will fully halt production, while, if the emergency measures exceed 120 hours, they will halt 50 percent of their capacities after the 120-hour period. Certain other sintering, pelletizing and rolling mills will also halt production.
At the same time, category B and C coking plants are required to extend their coke carbonization period to at least 36 hours, which will have the result of reducing coke output.
Meanwhile, restrictions will be imposed on the use heavy trucks for transportation of bulk materials and products at mines, coal washing plants and ports.
Tighter restrictions in Tangshan will affect iron ore demand. At the same time, as some rolling mills have also been ordered to halt production, steel demand will also be impacted in addition to steel production.