The relevant person in charge of the Department of Atmospheric Environment of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment answered questions from reporters

The relevant person in charge of the Department of Atmospheric Environment of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment answered reporters' questions on the "Opinions on Promoting the Implementation of Ultra-low Emissions in the Cement Industry" and "Opinions on Promoting the Implementation of Ultra-low Emissions in the Coking Industry".

Recently, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport, jointly issued the "Opinions on Promoting the Implementation of Ultra-low Emissions in the Cement Industry" and "Opinions on Promoting the Implementation of Ultra-low Emissions in the Coking Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"). The relevant person in charge of the Department of Atmospheric Environment of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment answered questions from reporters on the background, overall idea and main content of the "Opinions".

Q: Please introduce the background and general idea of the Opinions.

A: The mainland is the world's largest producer of cement and coke. In 2022, the mainland produced 2.13 billion tons of cement and 470 million tons of coke, accounting for 57% and 70% of the world's total output, respectively. The cement industry is second only to the electric power and steel industries in terms of major air pollutant emissions, and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions in the coking industry rank second among all industries, and the exhaust gas contains a large number of toxic and harmful substances such as benzene and benzopyrene, which endanger human health.

In 2021, the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Deepening the Battle of Pollution Prevention and Control" clearly required that the ultra-low emission transformation of enterprises in the cement and coking industries be promoted. Our ministry has guided Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi and other key regional provinces to take the lead in carrying out ultra-low emission transformation in the cement and coking industries, and has made positive progress, laying a solid foundation for this work to be promoted nationwide. In November 2023, the State Council issued the Action Plan for Continuous Improvement of Air Quality, taking the ultra-low emission transformation of key industries as a powerful measure to effectively reduce pollution emissions and continuously improve air quality in the whole society. In order to implement the decision-making and deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, and guide all localities to promote ultra-low emissions in the cement and coking industries with high quality, our ministry has conducted in-depth research and extensively listened to the opinions of all parties on the basis of the preliminary work, and issued the "Opinions" in conjunction with relevant departments.

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Opinions thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and the spirit of the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection. Adhere to the general tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability, adhere to precise, scientific and law-based pollution control, comprehensively adopt policies such as taxation, price, finance, and environmental protection, take multiple measures to promote the implementation of ultra-low emissions in the cement and coking industries, improve the level of air pollution control in the whole process and process of the industry, promote the green and low-carbon transformation and upgrading of the industry, promote the continuous improvement of air quality, and provide strong support for the in-depth fight against pollution.

Q: Please briefly introduce the goals, indicators and key tasks of the "Opinions on Promoting the Implementation of Ultra-low Emissions in the Cement Industry"?

Answer: The main goal is that by the end of 2025, 50% of the cement clinker production capacity in key areas will be transformed, and large state-owned enterprise groups in the region will basically complete the transformation of organized and unorganized ultra-low emissions, and by the end of 2028, cement clinker enterprises in key areas will basically complete the transformation, and 80% of the cement clinker production capacity will be completed in the country.

The main indicators are that in terms of organized emission indicators, the hourly average emission concentrations of exhaust gas particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are not higher than 10mg/m³, 35mg/m³ and 50mg/m³ respectively under the condition of 10% oxygen content of cement kiln and kiln tail waste heat utilization system. In terms of fugitive emission control measures, on the premise of ensuring safe production, effective control facilities such as closed and closed emission sources such as material storage, material transportation, and production process are adopted to ensure that there is no visible smoke and dust escaping from dust production points and production facilities, and the plant area is clean and free of dust. In terms of clean transportation, the proportion of raw fuel in and out of enterprises shall not be less than 80% of the transportation in clean mode, and the proportion of automobile transportation in enterprises that cannot reach the standard of new energy or China VI emission standards shall be used for all new energy or national VI emission standard vehicles; and the proportion of clean transportation of enterprises in key areas shall not reach 80%, and new energy vehicles shall be used instead. Priority is given to clean transportation for product transportation, and all new energy or China VI emission standard vehicles are used for automobile transportation.

Four key tasks were proposed. First, optimize and adjust the industrial structure. Strictly implement the capacity replacement policy, strictly prohibit new production capacity in key areas, promote the construction of new reconstruction and expansion projects according to ultra-low emission levels, eliminate backward production capacity in accordance with laws and regulations, and no longer require the implementation of ultra-low emission transformation of enterprises or facilities included in the elimination and exit plan. The second is to promote the ultra-low emission transformation of existing enterprises in an orderly manner. Strengthen source control and adopt mature and stable pollution control technology. The third is to coordinate and promote the coordinated reduction of pollution and carbon emissions in the cement industry. Encourage enterprises to carry out pollution reduction, carbon reduction and cleaner production transformation in an overall manner during the ultra-low emission transformation. Fourth, strengthen the whole process of fine environmental management. Comprehensively strengthen the construction of automatic pollutant emission monitoring, process monitoring and video monitoring facilities, strengthen enterprise operation management, strengthen transportation management, and improve management systems.

Q: Please briefly introduce the goals, indicators and key tasks of the "Opinions on Promoting the Implementation of Ultra-low Emissions in the Coking Industry"?

Answer: The main goal is to complete the transformation of 60% of the coking capacity in key areas by the end of 2025, and by the end of 2028, the transformation of key areas will be basically completed, and 80% of the national production capacity will be completed.

The main indicators are that in terms of organized emission indicators, the hourly average emission concentrations of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane total hydrocarbons and ammonia from coke oven chimneys are not higher than 10mg/m³, 30mg/m³, 150mg/m³, 100mg/m³ and 8mg/m³ respectively under the condition of 8% of the baseline oxygen content. In terms of unorganized emission control measures, on the premise of ensuring safe production, effective control facilities such as airtight and closed emission sources such as material storage, material transportation, production process, and open liquid level are adopted to ensure that there is no visible smoke and dust escaping from dust production points and production facilities, and the plant area is clean and tidy, without dust accumulation and obvious odor. In terms of clean transportation, the proportion of clean mode transportation shall not be less than 80%, and enterprises that do not meet the standard shall use new energy or China VI emission standard vehicles for automobile transportation. The proportion of clean transportation in enterprises in key areas does not reach 80%, and new energy vehicles should be used instead.

Four key tasks were proposed. First, optimize and adjust the industrial structure. It is strictly forbidden to add new coking capacity in key areas, promote the construction of new reconstruction and expansion projects according to ultra-low emission levels, and promote the integration, merger and reorganization of steel and coke. Relevant departments of Shaanxi, Xinjiang and other provinces (autonomous regions) have formulated plans for the transformation and upgrading of semi-coke (blue coke) enterprises. The second is to promote the ultra-low emission transformation of existing enterprises in an orderly manner. According to the conditions of the factory, mature and applicable environmental protection technologies are selected, source control is strengthened, the whole process of VOCs treatment is promoted, and the transformation of clean transportation links is strengthened. The third is to coordinate and promote the coordinated reduction of pollution and carbon emissions in the coking industry. Guide the coking industry chain to extend to high value-added fine chemical products, and promote the application of clean energy substitution and existing mature pollution reduction and carbon reduction technologies. Fourth, strengthen the whole process of fine environmental management. Highlight the transformation from end treatment to source treatment and refined management, strengthen pollutant emission monitoring and monitoring, strengthen enterprise operation management, strengthen transportation management, and improve management systems.

Q: What are the policy measures implemented in the Opinions?

Answer: Compliance with the emission standard is the legal responsibility of the enterprise, ultra-low emission is the encouragement orientation, for the enterprise to meet the requirements of ultra-low emission transformation to increase support, fully stimulate the endogenous power of enterprise transformation.

The first is to increase economic policy support. Enterprises that implement ultra-low emission transformation will be supported in terms of taxation, credit, and financing in accordance with relevant regulations. Through the national carbon emission trading market, positive incentives will be formed for enterprises that carry out pollution reduction and carbon reduction transformation in the process of ultra-low emission transformation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The second is to implement differentiated environmental protection management policies. For cement and coking enterprises that have completed the ultra-low emission transformation and publicity, they can carry out A-level performance rating work and enjoy the relevant preferential policies of A-level enterprises. Promote the establishment of a unified tiered electricity price system for high-energy-consuming industries, and encourage qualified areas to formulate credit and finance policies based on pollutant emissions, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The third is to strengthen technical support. Research and formulate technical guidance documents related to ultra-low emission transformation. Support enterprises to cooperate with universities, scientific research institutions, environmental protection engineering technology companies, etc., to innovate energy-saving and emission reduction technologies. Build an exchange platform for ultra-low emission transformation and promote the promotion and application of mature advanced technologies.

Q: What results are expected to be achieved after the implementation of the Opinions?

Answer: After the transformation goals of the "Opinions" are all realized, it is expected to bring better environmental, social and economic benefits.

In terms of environmental benefits, it is expected that the emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter in the cement industry, VOCs and nitrogen oxides in the coking industry will drop significantly, effectively promoting the reduction of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in cities and regions where cement and coking are concentrated. At the same time, by actively encouraging enterprises to adopt more source prevention and control measures such as raw material substitution, fuel substitution, gas recovery, energy conservation, pollution reduction and carbon reduction transformation, and clean transportation transformation, we will promote the reduction of carbon emissions in the two industries and the whole society, and produce significant carbon reduction benefits.

In terms of social benefits, the emission of toxic and harmful substances such as benzopyrene and cyanide will be greatly reduced after the transformation of the coking industry, and the dust emission will be greatly reduced after the transformation of the cement industry, which will significantly reduce the health hazards to the employees of the enterprise and the surrounding residents.

In terms of economic benefits, ultra-low emission transformation can drive the development of new energy vehicles, energy conservation and environmental protection industries, and effectively stimulate social investment to form a new green economic growth point. Taking ultra-low emissions as the starting point, it can also effectively promote the green and low-carbon transformation of the two industries and promote the high-quality development of the industry.

Q: After the release of the Opinions, what are the follow-up work arrangements?

Answer: In order to promote the ultra-low emission transformation of the cement and coking industries with high quality, promote the green and low-carbon transformation and upgrading of the industry, and promote the continuous improvement of air quality, the following key tasks will be done in the future.

The first is to strengthen organization and coordination. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment will give full play to the role of overall planning and coordination, strengthen coordination and linkage with relevant departments, coordinate and solve difficulties and problems in the process of promotion in a timely manner, and guide all localities to formulate ultra-low emission transformation plans, do a good job in the detailed implementation of tasks, and do a good job in supervision, management and service.

The second is strict evaluation management. Issued technical guidelines for ultra-low emission assessment and monitoring of cement and coking enterprises, standardized the ultra-low emission assessment and monitoring work of cement and coking enterprises, and unified the procedures and methods for ultra-low emission assessment and monitoring. At the same time, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, together with relevant departments, will evaluate the completion of the ultra-low emission transformation in the previous year every year.

The third is to strengthen supervision and management. Guide local governments to establish dynamic management accounts, strengthen supervision during and after the event for enterprises that have completed ultra-low emission transformation, and promptly adjust the dynamic management list for those that cannot stably achieve ultra-low emissions.

Fourth, do a good job of publicity and interpretation. Strengthen policy interpretation and publicity to ensure that relevant departments, localities, and enterprises understand, grasp, and implement the relevant requirements of the Opinions, create a good public opinion atmosphere conducive to the ultra-low emission transformation of the cement and coking industries, and timely publicize and report the excellent practices of local and enterprise enterprises.

Source: Ministry of Ecology and Environment