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China tightens supervision on steel production

2009-10-29 09:07 BJT

The Ministry of Environmental Protection says it has started the largest verification program against steel producers in China. The campaign aims to curb overcapacity, as well as to urge producers protect environment. The Ministry said some of the information gathered earlier from local governments on over 1,000 steel makers is incorrect and inadequate.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection says it has sent six groups of inspectors to more than 1 thousand steel makers in China, to check their production capacity and equipment used for environmental protection.

Song Gang, Director of Inspection Center for North China, MEP said "The steel industry has been developing very fast in China. But many steel makers are not under the central government's control. And they bring many uncertainties to the governance environment. "

Inspectors say they have been sent by the central government to verify the actual records of steel producers.

Xu Hairong, Inspector of Inspection Center for North China, MEP said "In Langfang city, the reported figure is 6 million tons, but the real figure is 14 million. And in Qinhuangdao city, the reported figure is 9 million tons but the real number is 15 million. "

The inspectors say many of the existing small steel producers and new projects have not been approved by the central government. Data shows 32 percent of steel converters do not go through the environmental-assessment procedure in six Northern provinces. The company's owners say they could get approval from the local government, instead of from Beijing. However, the central government says it has vowed to strengthen requirements for industry admittance and will not approve any pure steel expansion projects in the next three years.

Editor: Xiong Qu | Source: CCTV.com