2 SOEs rebuked for poor efforts on environment

Subsidiaries accused of lagging in fulfilling ecological responsibilities

China's office of central environmental inspection has rebuked the subsidiaries of two central government controlled enterprises for "weak awareness of their abidance of environmental laws" and "slighting local environmental authorities' supervision".

Though the two companies, China National Chemical Corp and China Minmetals Corp, have "made some progress in promoting environmental protection", they both still have gaps that need to be closed, according to a report made public on Monday by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, where the inspection office is based.

Since 2017, China National Chemical Corp has invested over 3 billion yuan ($430 million) in more than 900 projects to enhance environmental protection work. Bringing in foreign experience and technology, the company has made efforts to phase out old, polluting equipment and ramp up its capability in pollution control, the report said.