China toughens position after Zijin spill

Enviromine

Publishing Date: 07 Sep 2010 4:20pm GMT
Author: Mining, People and the Environment

Pollution & Waste management

China, the world’s leading copper smelting country, may close plants that violate environmental rules, as the government tightens regulations after a series of industrial accidents led to waste spilling into rivers and seas.

Copper smelters will need to spend two years in reorganisation before reapplying for approval to operate after a ban, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a statement on its website, without giving details. The ministry will have a list of approved producers, it said.

Industrial accidents in the country this year include a waste spill at Zijin Mining Group Co’s Zijinshan copper plant, an oil spill, gas pipeline explosion and chemical leak.

There were about 102 accidents in the first half, compared with 171 for the whole of 2010, according to figures derived from the environmental protection ministry’s data. Zijin’s waste leak was the worst in the Chinese gold industry in two years.

Copper smelters must shut outdated plants and facilities before applying to become an approved operator, the industry ministry said today.

Copper on the London Metal Exchange has gained 23% in the past year as China boosted imports after the government’s stimulus spending boosted manufacturers and builders.

(Bloomberg)