Environmental protection

Amid the efforts of Shanxi authorities to boost economic growth, an equal emphasis has been put on environmental protection.

This is in accordance with the requirements of the Fifth Plenary Session, which says in its communique that "China will advance green development and promote harmony between humans and nature".

On Dec 18, workers at the central control center of Feixiang Casting based in Yicheng county pushed buttons to kickstart the newly installed "mist cannon trucks" in its plant.

The mist cannon trucks are used for pollution control in manufacturing sites, as the mist suppresses dust when it sprays.

This was the company's latest move in environmental protection after investing in desulfurization and denitrification equipment, which cost 92 million yuan and began operation in September.

"With strict environmental measures in place, we are now a leader in green production in Yicheng," said Chen Wenjie, deputy general manager of the company.

Behind Feixiang's efforts is the provincial authorities' determination in pollution control.

Over the past five years, the province has implemented a long-term campaign to curb pollution of the air, water and soil. Strict environmental standards have been imposed on industries with the greatest potential for polluting, such as coal-mining, coking and metallurgy.

There are also moves to restore the ecological environment by returning farmlands to forests, grasslands and wetlands.

Local statistics show the average concentration of PM2.5－particular matter with diameter less than 2.5 micrometers－during the first 10 months of last year was 42 micrograms per cubic meter, a decrease of 8.7 percent from the same period in 2019.

The average concentration of sulfur dioxide was 18 mcg per cu m, a drop of 25 percent year-on-year. The rate of decrease was 41.1 percent in 2018 and 20 percent in 2019.