Pollution woes inspire high-tech solutions

Steel and petrochemical firms are greening operations with smart manufacturing and innovative technologies

The steel and petrochemical industries have long been seen as major contributors to heavy pollution. However, some companies are starting to green their operations with smart manufacturing and innovative technologies.

Baosteel Zhanjiang Iron and Steel is a good example. The plant, located on Donghai Island, 40 kilometers from downtown Zhanjiang in South China's Guangdong province, has made a massive investment to make the steel plant environmentally friendly. Nearly 5 billion yuan ($698 million) of the 50 billion yuan invested in building the coastal plant was allocated for environmental protection - the largest amount by a domestic iron and steel manufacturer.