Beijing announces strict new curbs on heavy industry to combat smog

Beijing has banned new heavily polluting industrial plants and expansions of existing ones in the first local clean air act on the mainland aimed at tackling smog.

Violators of pollution discharge limits will also face stiffer penalties.

The city's regulation on air pollution prevention, which will take effect from March 1, states that tackling the tiny particulate pollutants that cause smog is at the centre of Beijing's clean-up campaign, according to the document posted on the municipal government's website.

The announcement came as Beijing's weather bureau issued another blue alert for smog - the lowest of four levels - last night, forecasting pollution will linger until tomorrow.

Beijing mayor Wang Anshun said last week that the capital would spend 760 billion yuan (HK$970 billion) in the fight against smog after the city pledged in September to cut levels of PM2.5, particulate matters smaller than 2.5 microns, by 25 per cent by 2017.

The city would set caps for coal consumption and emissions of major air pollutants under the regulation. New and expanded projects including oil refining, cement, coking, and steel would be banned. All thermal plants powered by fossil fuels would have to switch to clean energy.

Law enforcers would be empowered to penalise frequent violators at multiple times the regular fine of up to 500,000 yuan.