How will 'blue sky' action plan affect Chinese copper smelters?

The Chinese government is attaching increasing importance to environmental protection. Inspection groups have been sent out to different regions to make sure industries are meeting the requirements to reduce pollution. More importantly, stricter regulations have been introduced. In the metals and mining sector, there is no doubt that steel mills and aluminium smelters are being significantly impacted. In the mean time, we also see the Chinese copper smelting industry facing increasing risks. In early July 2018, the government published a three-year ‘blue sky defence’ action plan aiming to improve the air quality in China. The comprehensive plan introduced several measures and policies that will have a big impact on various industries. For copper smelters, the most significant impact of the plan comes from the requirement for special emission limits in key areas.