Cement plants in the northeast provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning have been ordered to close for four months to help reduce overcapacity and air pollution over the winter period. The order was issued by the China Cement Association and the three provincial governments.
According to press reports, the country will suspend 103 cement production lines from 1 December 2014 through 31 March 2015 in order to help lessen the amount of smog in northeast China, and in Beijing and Tianjin. Kong Xiangzhong, Vice President of the China Cement Association, told local press that the winter stoppage would have a noticeable impact on air pollution levels, as fuel consumption increases when temperatures drop.
The suspension follows an earlier order issued by the Xinjiang autonomous region to stop all cement production during winter, starting from 1 November 2014 to 1 March 2015.
Edited from various sources by Rosalie Starling
Sources