Shanxi will phase out coke ovens under 4.3 meters in height

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In order to implement the \"2019 Action Plan for Winning the Battle to Protect the Blue Sky in Shanxi Province,\" and taking into account the actual conditions of Linfen, as well as the relevant requirements outlined in the Ministry of Ecology and Environment’s \"Technical Guidelines for Formulating Emergency Emission Reduction Measures for Key Industries during Periods of Severe Air Pollution,\" our city has prepared the \"Linfen City 2019–2020 Autumn-Winter Plan for Differential Production Control of Industrial Enterprises (Draft for Public Comment).docx.\" We are now seeking opinions from the public. 　　If you have any comments or suggestions, please provide them to us in writing within 5 working days. 　　Telephone/Fax: 0357-2223567　Email: sjwkk@163.com　Linfen Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, August 26, 2019. Plan for Differentiated Production Control of Industrial Enterprises in Linfen during the Autumn and Winter Seasons of 2019–2020. In order to fully implement the national, provincial, and municipal “Three-Year Action Plan for Winning the Battle to Defend the Blue Sky”, to make early arrangements for comprehensive efforts to control air pollution during the autumn and winter seasons of 2019–2020, to further reduce the total emissions of pollutants from industrial enterprises, and to ensure the attainment of all annual targets related to ambient air quality. Referring to the differentiated production control measures implemented both within and outside the province, and taking into account the actual conditions of our city, we have formulated the “Linfen City Plan for Differentiated Production Control of Industrial Enterprises during the Autumn and Winter Seasons of 2019–2020”. I. General Requirements 　　(1) Guiding Principles 　　With the improvement of environmental air quality as the core goal, differential production management and control in industrial enterprises are regarded as important measures for effectively combating air pollution during autumn and winter, addressing severe pollution episodes, and winning the battle to preserve clear skies. Emphasis is placed on adopting scientific measures and precise regulation during key periods and in key industries; differentiated management is implemented based on the level of pollution emission performance, thereby enhancing the precision, scientific basis, relevance, and effectiveness of differentiated production control and avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. (II) Basic Principles 1. Adhere to a bottom-line mindset. Rapid and effective reduction of the total amount of pollutants emitted by enterprises is the fundamental goal of differentiated production control in industrial firms. All counties (cities, districts) must thoroughly understand the spirit and requirements of relevant provincial, municipal, and local documents, strictly implement differentiated control plans and emission reduction measures, ensure that pollutant emissions meet the specified reduction targets, and thereby achieve a significant improvement in environmental air quality. For major projects related to people’s livelihood, such as residential heating, measures such as adjusting heat sources or building backup heat sources should be taken in advance. On the basis of firmly implementing measures to reduce production and emissions, it is necessary to ensure the supply needed for people’s livelihood. 2. Adhere to categorized and tiered control measures. Strict classified and hierarchical management is implemented for industrial enterprises across the city; these enterprises are categorized by type into industries such as steel, coking, thermal power, cement, foundry, brick manufacturing, coal and coke transportation, coal washing, concrete mixing, ceramics, lime kilns, gypsum boards/plates, slag wool, carbon black, and grinding plants ； It is classified into grades I, II, III, and IV according to performance type. Based on the achievement of thorough treatment, various industries determine appropriate measures for suspending or limiting production by taking into account factors such as the level of enterprise equipment, energy consumption, pollution emissions, the extent of treatment implemented, and transportation capabilities. This approach helps to improve the overall level of pollution control in these industries and fosters high-quality development. 3. Adhere to a combination of regular management and emergency response. The differentiated control rating is not equivalent to the emergency emission reduction performance rating for key industries during periods of severe air pollution; during such periods, these key industries take emission reduction measures based on the results of their emergency emission reduction performance assessment. Enterprises in key industries should, in accordance with the requirement of \"one plan per factory,\" develop differentiated production control plans and emergency response plans for severe pollution conditions. Under normal circumstances, they shall implement differentiated production control measures, while during warnings of severe pollution, they should take further emergency actions such as suspending or restricting production, regulating transportation, and improving the efficiency of pollution treatment facilities in order to effectively deal with such situations. 　(III) Implementation period: October 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020. II. Requirements for differentiated production control: (I) Strengthen control measures to promote emission reduction through effective management. Except for steel and coking enterprises, as of September 30, 2019, all other industrial enterprises that failed to complete the in-depth treatment and renovation tasks on schedule and pass the acceptance inspections, as well as all industrial enterprises that did not establish an electricity control system for pollution prevention facilities as required, shall be ordered to suspend production for rectification. Production shall not be resumed until the tasks of in-depth governance and the construction of the power consumption control system are completed ； Enterprises that have been suspended from production for a long time and fail to meet the requirements for in-depth treatment or complete the construction of an electricity control system are not allowed to resume production without permission. Steel and coking enterprises are subject to dynamic evaluation and grading based on their governance performance. (II) Strengthen targeted measures to reduce emissions by limiting production. 1. Steel industry (including integrated blast furnace and casting enterprises as well as ferroalloy enterprises): Category I: Enterprises that meet all 3 of the following conditions may, based on their actual circumstances, take voluntary emission reduction measures. ⑴Model enterprises that meet the requirements of the \"2019 Implementation Plan for Intensive Emission Reduction in the Steel and Coking Industries in Linfen City\" and pass the verification process ； ⑵The main production equipment (blast furnaces, sintering machines, converters, etc.) does not fall under the restricted or phased-out categories specified in the \"Guidelines for Industrial Structure Adjustment\" ； ⑶Complete the treatment of gas emissions in accordance with the \"Urgent Notice on Strengthening the Management of Gas Emissions in the Steel Industry\" (Linhuan Fa [2019] No. 39) and pass the inspection. Category II: Those meeting both of the following conditions are subject to a 30% production limit. (Based on the blast furnace capacity, the production cut ratio is determined according to the number of blast furnaces shut down, the duration of shutdown, and the load during shutdown; when blast furnaces are shut down, the associated sintering, pelletizing, converter, and rolling mills are also shut down simultaneously.) (The same below) ⑴ Enterprises that, in accordance with the requirements of the \"Linfen City 2019 Implementation Plan for Intensive Emission Reduction in the Steel and Coking Industries\", have fully completed the intensive emission reduction measures and passed the inspection and verification ； ⑵Complete the treatment of gas emissions in accordance with the \"Urgent Notice on Strengthening the Management of Gas Emissions in the Steel Industry\" (Linhuan Fa [2019] No. 39) and pass the inspection. Category III: Those meeting both of the following two conditions shall have their production reduced by 50%. ⑴Enterprises in the steel industry that have completed the tasks related to the control of organized emissions and passed the acceptance inspections, as required by the “Implementation Plan for Deep Emission Reductions in the Steel and Coking Industries in Linfen City in 2019”. ⑵Complete the treatment of gas emissions in accordance with the \"Urgent Notice on Strengthening the Management of Gas Emissions in the Steel Industry\" (Linhuan Fa [2019] No. 39) and pass the inspection. Category IV: Enterprises that do not meet the criteria for Category III must reduce production by 70% if they provide heating services to residents; those that do not provide such services must cease production. 2. Coking industry, Category I: Benchmark enterprises that meet the requirements of the \"Linfen City 2019 Implementation Plan for Intensive Emission Reduction in the Steel and Coking Industries\" and pass the verification process; such enterprises may take emission reduction measures on their own, based on their actual circumstances. Production lines with different levels of equipment and governance shall be subject to classified management (the same applies hereinafter). Category II: If both of the following conditions are met, the coking time is extended to 36 hours ； The coking time in clean heat recovery coke ovens has been extended to about 150 hours. ⑴In accordance with the requirements of the “Implementation Plan for Deep Emission Reductions in the Iron and Steel and Coking Industries in Linfen City for 2019”, enterprises that have fully completed deep emission reduction measures and passed the acceptance inspections ； ⑵The coking quenching method is dry quenching. Category III: Those that stably meet the special emission limit standards for the coking industry have an extended coking time of 48 hours ； The coking time for clean heat-recovery coke ovens has been extended to around 180 hours. Category IV: If the conditions for Category III are not met, coal charging to the coke oven chamber is stopped. 3. Thermal power industry, Category I: Where both of the following two conditions are met, enterprises may, based on actual circumstances, independently implement emission reduction measures. ⑴The emission concentrations of the main pollutants in flue gas, namely particulate matter, SO2, and NOX, shall not exceed the standard values of 5, 35, and 50 mg/m3 respectively under a baseline oxygen content of 6%. ⑵Complete the construction of a standardized vehicle washing platform and put it into normal use; transport vehicles that meet National Standard V or higher (including those running on gas), ensuring they are properly sealed. Category II: Enterprises involved in heating services for residents that do not meet the requirements of Category I must cease operations immediately after the heating season and carry out rectification work; they are not allowed to resume operations until the standards are met. Enterprises not involved in heating services for residents do not need to suspend operations. 4. Cement industry (excluding grinding plants): Category I: Plants that meet all 3 of the following conditions shall suspend production from December 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020. ⑴Complete the ultra-low emission upgrades, so that the emission concentrations of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides from cement kilns are not higher than 10 mg/m3, 50 mg/m3, and 150 mg/m3 respectively under a baseline oxygen content of 10% ； ⑵Complete the construction of a standardized vehicle washing platform and put it into normal use; transport vehicles that meet National Standard V or higher (including those running on gas), ensuring they are properly sealed. ⑶Complete the upgrade and renovation of online monitoring facilities and their networked transmission as required. Category II: Those that do not meet the criteria of Category I must cease production entirely. 5. Foundry industry, Category I: Normal production is permitted if both of the following conditions are met. ⑴Meet the requirements of the \"Comprehensive Plan for Environmental Protection Improvement in the Foundry Industry in Linfen City\" (Document No. Lin Qi Zhi Ban Fa 9) and pass the inspection ； ⑵An electric furnace is used as the melting equipment, and the cupola has been removed. Category II: Those that do not meet Category I standards must cease production entirely. 6. Brick and tile industry (excluding unsintered bricks and tiles): Category I: Those that meet both of the following conditions shall suspend production from November 15, 2019, to March 15, 2020. ⑴The remediation and acceptance have been completed in accordance with the requirements of the “Implementation Plan for the Comprehensive Environmental Protection Remediation in the Brick and Tile Industry of Linfen City”; the online monitoring facilities are connected to the network and are operating stably while meeting all standards ； ⑵Complete the construction of a standardized vehicle washing platform and put it into normal use; transport vehicles that meet National Standard V or higher (including those running on gas), ensuring they are properly sealed. Category II: Those that do not meet the criteria of Category I must cease production entirely. 7. Coal coking dispatch stations, coal washing, and concrete mixing industries – Category I: Normal production is permitted provided that both of the following conditions are met. ⑴In accordance with industry rectification requirements, complete the in-depth treatment tasks and undergo acceptance ； ⑵Complete the construction of a standardized vehicle washing platform and put it into normal use; transport vehicles that meet National Standard V or higher (including those running on gas), ensuring they are properly sealed. Category II: Those that do not meet the criteria of Category I must cease production entirely. 8. Ceramic industry, Category I: Enterprises that have completed the tasks related to in-depth treatment and use coke oven gas, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or electricity as fuel can operate normally. Category II: Enterprises that use coal (including gas generators) as fuel shall suspend operations from December 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020. 9. Lime kiln industry, Category I: Normal production is applicable when all of the following 3 conditions are met. ⑴It meets the requirements of the \"Linfen City Industrial Furnaces and Kilns Comprehensive Management Plan\" (Linfen Gas Management Office Order No. 21), with emission limits for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides at 30, 200, and 300 mg/m3 respectively ； ⑵Using coke oven gas, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or electricity as fuel ； ⑶Install online monitoring facilities and achieve stable network transmission. Category II: If all 3 of the following conditions are met, production is limited by 50%. ⑴In accordance with the requirements of the \"Comprehensive Plan for Controlling Air Pollution from Industrial Furnaces and Ovens\" (Environmental Protection Order No. 56), the emission limits for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides are 30, 200, and 300 mg/m3 respectively ； ⑵Using coal as fuel ； ⑶Install online monitoring facilities and achieve stable network transmission. Category III: Those that do not meet the conditions for Category I or II must cease production entirely. 10. Gypsum lines/plates, slag wool, carbon black, grinding plants (with industrial furnaces): Category I – Those that meet the requirements of the \"Linfen City Industrial Furnace Comprehensive Management Plan\" (Linfen Gas and Energy Administration Document No. 21), with emission limits for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides at 30, 200, and 300 mg/m3 respectively, must suspend operations from December 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020. Category II: Those that do not meet the requirements of Category I are subject to strict control, and production must be halted for rectification. 11. Industrial boilers. Industrial coal-fired boilers that have not completed ultra-low emission upgrades, as well as gas-fired boilers that have not undergone low-nitrogen modifications, must cease operations entirely from December 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020. 　III. Supplementary Management Measures 1. All counties (cities, districts) shall strictly comply with the requirements regarding differentiated control, organize inspections to assess the progress of ecological management tasks undertaken by all enterprises within their jurisdictions, and submit by September 15, 2019, a list of enterprises, those in various industries that have not completed their ecological management tasks, as well as a list of enterprises whose production has been suspended or restricted due to such issues, to the Municipal Air Quality Management Office. After review and modification by the office, this list will be filed as a basis for supervision, inspection, and evaluation. 2. For key industries subject to differentiated control, the Municipal Air Pollution Control Office shall conduct a unified verification and acceptance of the progress made in the in-depth governance efforts within the steel and coking industries, and implement performance ratings accordingly ； The completion of in-depth governance tasks in other industries shall be inspected and accepted by each ecological environment branch bureau, which will also conduct performance ratings ； Those that have not completed acceptance are considered to have not undergone in-depth treatment. 3. During the period of differentiated production control in autumn and winter, the Municipal Air Quality Management Office will organize the relevant industry departments to conduct irregular spot checks on enterprises, as well as mutual inspections among counties (cities, districts). For enterprises that fail to comply with the control measures, they shall be ordered to suspend production for rectification upon approval by the municipal ** authorities ； Enterprises that should have been included in the list of key industries but were not will be immediately ordered to halt production upon discovery; they are prohibited from resuming production during autumn and winter. 4. Implement dynamic adjustments to the ratings of industrial enterprises subject to differentiated regulation. Those enterprises that fail to maintain stable pollution emission levels in line with the required standards, commit environmental violations, or fail to properly implement emergency emission reduction measures during periods of severe pollution are assigned the lowest possible rating. 5. The differentiated control measures for industrial enterprises must be operational and verifiable. The proportion of production reduction should prioritize shutting down operations by time period, followed by shutting down specific production lines or equipment. In cases where it is truly impossible to suspend production due to technical reasons, production should be reduced based on the current load. Heating supply companies must strictly adhere to the commitments regarding the separation of heating services, ensuring that heating is provided while also meeting the requirements for differentiated management. 　IV. Safeguard Measures (1) Strengthen organizational leadership. In the autumn and winter of 2019–2020, the differentiated production control measures for industrial enterprises in our city were implemented under the unified leadership of the municipal **. The ** in each county (city, district) serves as the main entity responsible for organizing and implementing such measures locally. The principal leaders are the primary persons in charge; they must regard the differentiated production control efforts in key industries as a top priority and place them at the forefront of autumn/winter prevention and control efforts. They should formulate local implementation plans and ensure their application at the level of enterprises, production lines, and equipment. For all enterprises subject to these controls, the responsible supervisory units and personnel must be clearly designated. Relevant departments should fully leverage their advantages in industry management, clarify their responsibilities, strengthen supervision, and develop on-site supervision plans for each respective industry to ensure the effective implementation of differentiated control measures. (II) Strengthen supervision and inspection. Counties (cities, districts) and relevant municipal departments must, in accordance with the requirements of “managing development while managing environmental protection, managing industries while managing environmental protection, and managing production while managing environmental protection,” continuously carry out supervision and inspections regarding differentiated production control. Special attention should be paid to whether enterprises in various regions are implementing differentiated production control measures, whether their pollutant emissions comply with the classification and grading standards, and whether the control plan has been specifically implemented down to the level of production suspension times, specific production lines, processes, and equipment. A list-based management system is implemented for those cases where requirements are not met; follow-up actions are taken, and rectification is required within a set time limit. Those who commit environmental violations are punished in accordance with laws and regulations ； It is absolutely not permitted to resort to perfunctory, mechanical, or superficial remedial measures such as ordering the suspension of all operations in the name of central or provincial environmental inspections, special inspections, or law enforcement checks. 　(III) Enforce strict accountability. The Municipal Air Quality Office will conduct dynamic reviews of the implementation of differentiated production control measures by enterprises during autumn and winter. Based on online monitoring data, electricity consumption control systems, production volumes, transportation volumes, and environmental taxes, it will inspect industrial enterprises. Enterprises found to have committed environmental violations, failed to implement the differentiated production control plans, or failed to promptly respond to emergency control measures during periods of severe air pollution will be subject to maximum penalties in accordance with the law, and their level of regulatory oversight will be downgraded and tightened accordingly ； All counties (cities, districts) shall establish a mechanism whereby senior officials are responsible for overseeing key industries under strict control. In particular, in cases related to enterprise heating services, the officials in charge of these services must take measures to ensure that relevant requirements are fulfilled. Those responsible in counties (cities, districts) and departments that fail to implement differentiated production control measures will be held strictly accountable in accordance with the law. (IV) Increase information disclosure. The list of differentiated control measures for industrial enterprises across the city will be made public in official media to be subject to supervision by peers and the general public. All counties, districts, cities, as well as relevant municipal departments should regard information disclosure as a key tool for promoting differentiated production during autumn and winter, establish and improve systems for mandatory disclosure of environmental protection information, and respond promptly to the hot and difficult issues of concern to the public. Enterprises under key supervision are required to promptly disclose information such as their own monitoring and pollution emission data, pollution control measures, responses to severe pollution conditions, penalties for environmental violations, and corrective actions taken. Counties (cities, districts) and enterprises that have the necessary resources are encouraged to make environmental information available to the public through electronic display screens, so as to accept societal oversight.