China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on the 18th publicly solicited opinions on the "Implementation Measures for Capacity Replacement in the Cement and Glass Industries (2024 Edition) (Draft for Comment)," proposing to strictly prohibit the filing and construction of new projects that expand capacity for cement clinker and flat glass.

　　The implementation measures aim to further optimize the industrial layout of the cement and glass industries and promote a dynamic balance between market supply and demand. The measures require that where new construction or reconstruction is truly necessary, a capacity replacement plan must be formulated and capacity replacement implemented. The energy efficiency of new production lines must reach the energy efficiency benchmark level for the cement and glass industries as set out in the "Benchmark and Baseline Energy Efficiency Levels for Key Industrial Sectors."

　　The measures specify the capacity replacement ratios for cement clinker and flat glass. For cement clinker, the replacement ratios for capacity replacement construction projects located in key areas for air pollution prevention and control and in non-key areas as designated by the state shall be no less than 2:1 and 1.5:1, respectively; where cement clinker production lines classified as restricted under the national industrial structure adjustment catalogue are used as replacement indicators, or where cement clinker indicators are replaced across provinces, the capacity replacement ratio shall be no less than 2:1.

　　For flat glass, the replacement ratios for flat glass capacity replacement construction projects located in key areas for air pollution prevention and control and in non-key areas as designated by the state shall be no less than 1.25:1 and 1:1, respectively.

　　The measures propose that for flat glass production lines that have been ordered by local governments to suspend production for more than three years due to force majeure, their capacity may be used for replacement before the end of June 2025, and may not be used for replacement after the end of June 2025.