CHINA announced a series of new rules yesterday to fine-tune its iron and steel industry to make it more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
The announcement, published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said the new rules relate to stricter requirements on quality of products, energy consumption, emissions, technology and equipment standards, production scale as well as security and social responsibility for iron and steel companies in line with the industry's development.
The new rules say the firms are forbidden to produce hot rolled silicon steel and twisted steel of primary level. Powder dust emissions, sulfur dioxide emissions and water consumption for making 1 ton of steel should not exceed 1.19 kilograms, 1.63kg and 4.1 cubic meters.
The new rules will be enforced next month. Meanwhile, the old one, which was set in June 2010, will be expired.