The Access Regulations for the Glass Fiber Industry issued by China“s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), scheduled to become effective on 1 February 2007, are aimed at limiting the lo…
The Access Regulations for the Glass Fiber Industry issued by China“s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), scheduled to become effective on 1 February 2007, are aimed at limiting the low-level redundant construction and expansion of China“s glass fiber industry, regulating the market and promoting the upgrade of the industry. The regulations set the threshold for glass fiber producers in terms of business layout, techniques, equipment, energy consumption and environmental protection. The rules forbid the construction of non-alkali marble process lines and medium- alkali marble process lines. They also prohibit the building of new glass fiber production plants in existing urban areas and planned non-industrial urban areas. According to the regulations, the scale of newly built glass fiber production lines using fiber drawing from a tank furnace should exceed 30,000 tons a year, while the sales revenue of new glass fiber product processing enterprises should be more than CNY 20 million per annum. The regulations forbid the use of certain textile equipment and glass fiber production using clay crucibles. Production techniques and equipment based on clay crucible fiber drawing will shortly be eliminated as will the production and sale of high-alkali glass fibers. Meanwhile, the energy consumption per unit of newly built glass fiber production line using fiber drawing from a tank furnace should be no more than one ton of standard coal per ton of yarn and the pollution discharge should meet the related national standards. Existing facilities have two years to conform with the new requirements. New projects which do not meet the regulations will not be allowed to proceed.