Steel producer to reduce output by half

Source: Xinhua | 01-06-2008 10:45

Beijing Shougang Group, one of China's leading steel manufacturers and also the city's major polluter, extinguished the fire in one of its four blast furnaces on Saturday, as part of its pledge to cut its normal output by half during the Olympics.

The main plant of Beijing Shougang Group is shown in this photo taken on early Wednesday morning, January 2, 2008 in western Beijing. The plant extinguished the fire in one of its four blast furnaces on Saturday. [Photo: Xinhua]

The fire was quenched in the No. 4 blast furnace, which had been in operation for more than 35 years.

"Following the No. 4 furnace, operation of the No. 2 blast furnace and two sintering machines will cease by the end of March this year," said Li Yan, head of the production department.

"During the third quarter when the Olympic Games are held, we will suspend the operation of the No. 3 blast furnace and two sintering machines while only maintaining the work of the No. 1 blast furnace. During that period, the monthly production output will be 200,000 tons, less that 30 percent of the normal output," said Li.

Li said all the production in Beijing plants will be stopped by 2010.