The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has begun soliciting public opinions on entry conditions and management regulations for the existing steelmakers, according to which small steelmakers each with a capacity below one million tons per year and special steel producers with a capacity below 500,000 tons might have little chance of survival.

Data shows some 200 mills, making up a quarter of the countrys total steel producers, are under these standards, almost all of them non-governmental run.

Other requirements in the new regulation involve: steelmakers must install well-established monitoring and addressing devices for pollutants emission and set up sound management systems for environmental protection. No serious accidents on environmental pollution have been recorded in the past two years.

Mills emissions of waste water should be less than two cubic meters per unit, dust emissions less than one kilogram and sulfur dioxide less than 1.8 kilograms.

Energy measuring instruments must be equipped at every mill and ceiling limits set up to cap the energy consumption of particular products.

The size of each blast furnace should be over 400-cubic meter, that of converter over 30 tons, and electric arc furnaces (excluding furnaces for special steel) over 30 tons.

Unlike the past policy allowing no flexibility, the new regulation will give time to mills to fix their shortcomings for a chance. Only those with little hope in sight will be phased out. The public inquires will last until December 16.