China will close down 15 million mt/year outdated steel production capacity and 15 million mt/year outdated iron-making capacity before the end of 2015 in addition to capacities already specified for closure during the 12th Five Year Plan period (2011-15), according to a notice on a central government website Tuesday.
Based on the State Council's 12th Five Year Plan issued in August 2012, China is to shut 48 million mt/year of outdated steel capacity and 48 million mt/year iron capacity before end 2015.
The additional capacities have been ordered for shut down to combat pollution as emissons during 2011-13 lagged requirements, the notice said. This will enable the government to reach emissions and energy saving targets for the 12th Five Year plan period.
The measures were outlined in the 2014-15 energy saving low-carbon development action plan, issued byt the State Council on May 26, the website said. The action plan put forward measures for saving energy and reducing carbon emissions over the next two years.
