In preparation for the upcoming G20 summit in China this September, the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau (SEPB) issued an order for an estimated 1,000 factories within a 300-km radius of Shanghai to cut down production.
This measure was enacted to minimize pollution before the arrival of world leaders for the event. So how will this impact global supply chains?
This year, the first ever G20 summit to be hosted by China will take place in Hangzhou, a city situated 150 miles southwest of Shanghai, where significant industrial, construction and residential emissions impact the air quality of its neighboring cities.
In 2015, Shanghai’s average pollution was double the recommended level listed by WHO.
Shanghai and Hangzhou are home to several industries including petrochemical, pharmaceutical, garment, food and equipment manufacturing. The following are the measures that will be implemented in the lead up to the summit:
Among the companies affected is Shanghai Petrochemical, which has been ordered to reduce 50% of its production. The company’s 150,000 tonne/year C5 separation unit; 100,00 tonne/year ethyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) unit; two 100,000 tonne/year polypropylene (PP) units; 230,000 tonne/year monoethylene glycol (MEG) plant; and 300,000 tonne/year polyester facility will be taken offline for 14 days.
Meanwhile, Shanghai SECCO Petrochemical, will shut down one 260,000 tonne/year acrylonitrile (CAN) from mid-August. Other shutdowns include Huayi Polymer Co’s acrylonitrile-butadiene-syrene (ABS), Shanghai Shanghai Chlor-Alkali Chemical’s ethylene dichloride (EDC) and Oriental Petrochemical Shanghai’s purified terephthalic acid (PTA) units ahead of the international summit.
Shanghai Pharmavan Medicine Development Co., Ltd., Shanghai Cezhen Automation Instrument Co., Ltd., Shanghai Qiangsheng Stainless Steel Wire Rod Co., Shanghai Jiyue Auto Components Co., Ltd., Shanghai Jingyinze Packing Machinery Co., Ltd among others, are also expected to either close their doors or cut down production.
The short-term measure is similar to those enacted by Beijing in 2014 ahead of a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, where the rare blue skies were referred to as “APEC Blue”. Some observers and experts believe that it would be better if the government would develop a long-term solution to the problem instead. "Longer term, China needs to work out a market-based approach to tackle pollution rather than an ad-hoc order. Apart from social responsibilities, business has its profit and loss to take care," said China Center for International Economic Exchanges researcher Jing Chunmei.
For now, though, Shanghai can expect “G20 blue” skies this summer.
By Raine Grey - November 20, 2015
Retailers such as H&M, Forever 21, and Zara have changed the way clothes are sold. But how will fashion supply chains react to the shift?
Read moreBy Janie Ryan - June 18, 2018
Palm oil, cocoa, beef. They are all weekly, if not daily, parts of the average American’s diet. Yet when not sourced carefully, they’re also some of the biggest threats to the world’s forests.
Read more
5 Comments