The Asian Development Bank has approved a US$178 million loan to help China make five factories more efficient.

The project, costing a total of $417 million, is for the Junxi General Chemical Factory in Liaoning province, the Tianjin Soda Plant in Tianjin, Huaxin Cement Co and Guangha Cement Factory in Hubei, and the Guiyang Steel Mills in Guizhou.