Emission Standard for Inorganic Chemical Pollutants has been published for public consultation; the first draft of Emission Standard for Air Pollutants of Chemical Fertilizers has been finished; Standard of the Industrial Salt By-products of Glyphosate is expected to be ready in 2016. The formulation of these standards indicates that China is undertaking a concerted effort to phase out the general discharge standards governing the chemical and petrochemical industries for more specialized ones.
For example, the technique to desulfurize boiler gases emitted by coal chemical enterprises and refineries is far more refined that the previous Integrated Emission Standard of Air Pollutants (GB 16297-1996). The Discharge Standards of Oil Refining Industry Pollutants and Discharge Standards of Coal Chemical Industry Pollutants are under formulation which will tighten restriction on sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission from 960 mg/m3 to 100mg/m3, and impose a special emission limit of 50 mg/m3 in key regions.
While specialized discharge standards for air pollutants and water pollutants of different petrochemical industrial sectors are being developed, the application of new environmental protection technologies and processes must be able support the implementation of these standards, for example in terms of VOC absorption, dust extraction/collection, recycling high salt wastewater, treatment of wastewater containing heavy metal or pesticides, etc. Small enterprises which are reluctant to invest in environmental protection techniques, equipment and other infrastructure and installations will be faced with significant punitive measures for incompliance once these standards (and the new environmental law) are promulgated.
Striking a balance between economic growth and environmental protection is a major problem. According to Mr. LI Yongwu, Chairman of China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF), excess production capacity, homogeneity of low end products and lack of high level products all contribute to the lack of market diversity facing China’s industry in recent years. The various specialized discharge standards are designed to apply regulatory selective pressures to the industry and force China’s heavy polluters to evolve or close shop .
