Recently, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment released the 2019–2020
Plan for Controlling and Improving Winter Atmospheric Pollution in Beijing,
Tianjin, and the Hebei Province and Surrounding Areas (the Plan). The Plan
describes general regulations, relevant requirements, and supporting measures
related to emissions in detail. Additionally, it gives specific regulations for
the emissions of VOCs in chemical industries, and it sets forth arrangements
for the control of winter atmospheric pollution in twenty eight provinces and
cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, and the Hubei province. The Plan will last for
six months, from October 2019 to the end of March, 2020.
The Chinese government aims to achieve specific goals for
improving the air quality of the cities of Beijing and Tianjin, as well as the
Hubei province and surrounding areas during 2019 and onward. The Plan seeks to
control the emission of greenhouse gases, decrease the average concentration of
PM2.5 by 5.5% YoY, and decrease the number of days with hazardous levels of
pollution by 8% YoY.
Several changes have been made to the pollution control plan
Several changes have been made to the Plan this year.
Firstly, production in the steel industry, cooking industry, and
the brick and tile industry will be suspended during the winter and started
again in spring. During the winter months, while the use of central heating is
increased, steel production will be limited to 50% in major cities such as
Tiajin, Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Handan, Xingtai, and Anyang. In additional
cities, steel production may be reduced by up to 30%.
Second, before the end of September, 2019, authorities of each
city will be required to complete an investigation of relevant industries.
Those industries that do not follow the regulatory policies or that generate air
pollution and contamination will be suspended for rectification.
Third, special emission limits for atmospheric pollutants, such as
bricks, tiles, steel, petroleum, non-ferrous metals, cement, and industrial
boilers will be strictly enforced from the beginning of October, 2019.
It is reported that the Ministry of Ecology and Environment also
recently circulated documents outlining environmental administrative
punishments throughout all of China during the first half of 2019 as well as
relevant regulations detailed by the environmental protection laws of China.
Additionally, the government administrated over USD 702 million (RMB 5 billion)
of penalties to violating industries throughout the country. The local
governments in the provinces of Jiangsu, Guangdong, Hebei, and Shandong enforce
greater penalties toward industries that violate the rules.
Atmospheric factors of
pollution in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei
In the regions of Beijing,
Tianjin, and Hebei, as well as in surrounding areas, the physical environment
is affected by winds, monsoons, and waves during fall and winter. Additionally,
the emissions of pollutants within these areas is three to five times higher
than the national average level. Furthermore, the concentration of PM2.5 in
these areas increases drastically during fall and winter. Particulate matter
within the air is carried downwind to other cities, and pollutants such as
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide will form into sulfuric acid and nitric acid,
causing secondary pollutants. According to statistics related to heavy
pollution processes, contributing factors to hazardous air conditions include
ground-level wind speeds of less than two meters per second, relative humidity
of over 60%, and vertical movement between air layers at a height of less than
500 meters.
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dynamic, please have a look at our Chinese market newsletters at Industry or email to emarket1@cnchemicals.com.