Steel plant lauded for capacity was never approved

A steel plant in Hanzhong that reported record-high production in April was repeatedly rejected over environmental concerns and continues to operate despite multiple failures to receive ministry approval, media reports said.

The Hanzhong Steel Limited Corp of Shaanxi Steel Group, in Mianxian county, Shaanxi province, which has investment of more than 13 billion yuan ($2.1 billion), was rejected twice by the national environmental watchdog, a report said.

Shaanxi province's Environmental Protection Bureau said it was aware of the issue but did not comment further on Wednesday.