The Municipal Government of Beijing is planning to close 300 factories in 2014 with the aim of reducing pollution and improving the cities air quality.
Energy and pollution intensive projects such as steel and cement are also going to be sidelined, according to a newly released document detailing key tasks based on Beijing Clean Air Action Plan (2013-1017). Labor intensive manufacturing is also not an option for city development.
A list of the industrial projects that are to be halted or suspended will be published by the end of April.
A clean production audit will be carried out in over 200 factories and at least 50 clean production projects will be promoted citywide.
The local government will also issue a directory catalogue in August to phase out some industries, manufacturing techniques and equipment that are not in line with Beijing’s function as the capital.
City officials in Beijing are aiming to cut PM2.5 (airborne particles measuring less than 2.5 microns) by five per cent year-on-year to 85 mg per cubic metre in 2014.
