Shanxi coke producer shut down for breaking environmental regulations

Shanxi coke producer shut down for breaking environmental regulations

The State Environmental Protection Administration shut down Shanxi Luliang Coking Factory, a state-owned coke producer, for trying to mislead the administration and causing severe pollution.

The company was blacklisted by SEPA on Jan. 10 and ordered to suspend production before a new environmental control system was launched.

However, after a field investigation three days later, the company was found to still be emitting waste water and coal gas, even though it claimed waste water recycling and a gas purifying facilities had been adopted, SEPA said.

An official surnamed Yin at the production department of Luliang Coking said the company was shut down immediately after the investigation.

"We will try to launch the pollution control system after the Spring Festival, since we can't afford the losses caused by production suspension," he said.

[source: Interfax China, 26 January 2007]