To standardize the recycling and treatment of waste electrical and electronic products and effectively prevent and reduce environmental pollution, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment recently issued the "Technical Specification for Pollution Control in the Treatment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products" (HJ 527—2026). The specification is expected to take effect on March 1 this year.

[SMM News Flash] Recently, due to temperature inversion and stable weather conditions, atmospheric dispersion conditions have been poor. Starting from January 5, 2025, a regional heavy pollution process is expected to occur in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas. Based on forecasts, predictions, and consultation assessments, the Heavy Pollution Weather Emergency Leadership Group of (Linyi) City has decided to issue an orange alert for heavy pollution weather at 10:00 on January 5, 2025, and simultaneously initiate a Level II emergency response for heavy pollution weather. According to SMM, local secondary lead smelters are currently in a state of shutdown, and environmental protection-related controls are not expected to affect lead production.

[SMM Lead Morning Meeting Summary: Heavy Pollution Weather Disrupts Refined Lead Supply, SHFE Lead Stabilizes After Decline] This week marks the week prior to the delivery of the SHFE lead 2503 contract. SHFE lead strengthened, approaching the 17,500 yuan/mt level, while spot market transactions were weaker than futures. The spread between futures and spot prices is not expected to narrow for now. Branded lead continues to be transferred to delivery warehouses, and social inventories of lead ingots have risen as anticipated. On the supply side, primary lead and secondary lead smelters are simultaneously resuming production and limiting output, with significant regional differences in lead ingot supply between the north and south.

[SMM Lead Morning Meeting Summary: Heavy Pollution Weather Disrupts Refined Lead Supply, SHFE Lead Stabilizes After Decline] This week marks the week prior to the delivery of the SHFE lead 2503 contract. SHFE lead strengthened, approaching the level of 17,500 yuan/mt, while spot market transactions were weaker than futures. The spread between futures and spot prices is not expected to narrow for now. Branded lead continues to be transferred to delivery warehouses, and social inventory of lead ingots has risen as expected. On the supply side, the resumption and restriction of production coexist at primary and secondary lead smelters, with significant regional differences in lead ingot supply between the north and south.

Glencore has repeatedly faced severe criticism over the pollution issues caused by its Horne smelter in the Rouyn-Noranda region. To complete the preparatory work aimed at reducing pollutant emissions, Glencore has set a rectification deadline for the Horne smelter of January 31. In a statement, Glencore said, "At this stage, certain key issues remain unresolved. It is essential to break the current deadlock immediately to ensure the continued operation of the Horne smelter and the company’s Montreal refinery, as well as to secure the investments needed to support the future development of the smelter."

According to the provincial Environmental Protection Committee Office's requirements for strengthening regional emergency coordination, and in conjunction with the "Zhuzhou City Heavy Pollution Weather Emergency Plan," with the approval of the municipal government, Zhuzhou City has decided to upgrade the heavy pollution weather yellow alert, which was initiated at 6:00 PM on December 31 last year, to an orange alert starting from 5:00 PM on January 3. The Level II orange response measures will be activated, and the specific time for lifting the alert will be announced later based on the results of consultations and assessments by the provincial and municipal authorities. It is reported that the furnace operating rate of some local enterprises has been restricted under these circumstances, and the production of die-casting zinc alloy has also been affected to some extent, with inventory potentially showing a downward trend. SMM will continue to provide follow-up reports.

The diffusion conditions in Qinhuangdao City improved in the afternoon of February 28, and the pollution level eased.

[SMM News Flash] In the coming days, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas will experience a regional, long-lasting, and widespread heavy pollution weather event. In accordance with the requirements of regional joint prevention and control, 29 cities in the three provinces of Henan, Hebei, and Shandong issued an orange alert for heavy pollution weather starting at 12:00 on March 5, and simultaneously initiated a Level II emergency response. The lifting time will be announced separately.

On April 15, the People's Government Office of Fengtai District, Beijing, issued a notice on the "2025 Action Plan for Promoting the Construction of a Beautiful Fengtai and Continuously Deepening the Battle Against Pollution." The Action Plan pointed out that the new energy transformation of vehicles in key industries will be accelerated, and a work plan for the new energy transformation of express delivery vehicles and light commercial delivery vehicles will be studied and formulated. 80% of the newly added and updated express light delivery vehicles and light commercial delivery vehicles will be pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Newly added and updated sanitation vehicles (excluding emergency rescue and snow removal vehicles) will be pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and light sanitation vehicles will basically achieve new energy transformation by the end of the year. Strictly implement the requirements of the "Work Plan for the Renewal of Sanitation Facilities and Equipment," and encourage the renewal of sanitation vehicles used for more than 8 years to pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Newly added and updated buses will be new energy vehicles, and buses will basically achieve electrification by the end of the year. Newly added and updated cruise taxis (excluding individual vehicles and social security vehicles) will be pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and cruise taxis will basically achieve electrification by the end of the year. Encourage newly added and updated ride-hailing vehicles to be new energy vehicles. Encourage newly added chartered passenger vehicles and updated intra-city chartered passenger vehicles to be pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Encourage C2 training vehicles and examination vehicles in driving schools to be pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Cooperate with municipal departments to implement the plan for phasing out the use of fuel-powered tourist buses within the Third Ring Road, and gradually phase out the use of fuel-powered tourist buses within the Third Ring Road. Create a circular tourist route with pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Encourage newly added and updated intra-city tourist passenger line vehicles to be pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Newly added and updated shuttle vehicles in district-owned urban parks will be pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Newly started construction sites will prioritize the use of pure electric, hydrogen fuel cell, or National VI B emission standard construction waste vehicles, and will basically not use National IV and below emission standard vehicles. In newly started construction sites within the Third Ring Road (except for the earth excavation stage), promote the use of pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell construction waste transport vehicles. Newly added and updated official vehicles (excluding special professional technical vehicles and some law enforcement vehicles that are not suitable for being equipped with electric vehicles) will be pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Newly added and updated vehicles of district-owned state-owned enterprises should be pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and National IV and below diesel vehicles (excluding emergency rescue and snow removal vehicles) will be basically phased out. Optimize vehicle (machinery) energy supply. Organize and implement the "14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of New Energy Vehicle Charging and Swapping Facilities in Beijing" and the "Beijing Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Hydrogen Refueling Station Development Plan (2021-2025)," and accelerate the construction of charging infrastructure and hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Promote the construction of electric vehicle charging facility networks and service systems, and encourage the simultaneous implementation of parking space and charging facility electrification transformation with the renovation of old communities. By the end of the year, the average service radius of public charging facilities in plain areas will be less than 3 kilometers, and the average service radius of battery swapping stations will be less than 5 kilometers. Continuously optimize and adjust the transportation structure. Promote concrete mixing stations to gradually increase the proportion of green transportation of mineral construction materials (including railways, pure electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles), and encourage mixing station operators to use pure electric or hydrogen fuel mixing tankers to transport concrete. Accelerate the renewal of light commercial delivery vehicles to pure electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles according to local conditions. Continuously carry out pilot demonstrations of advanced low-carbon technology projects. Increase the development, research, and innovation of low-carbon technologies such as energy storage, green electricity, new materials, hydrogen energy, carbon capture and utilization, and non-carbon dioxide governance.

Tangshan Heavy Pollution Weather Response Headquarters issued an announcement on March 1 that due to the influence of cold air in recent days