Tangshan issues orange smog alert

China’s biggest steelmaking city, Tangshan, issued a second-level or “orange” pollution alert for a wave of smog expected to blanket the region. The alert for Tangshan, which is east of Beijing on China’s coast, will be in effect from Jan 28 until Jan 30. Steel mills will have to curtail sintering operation by 30 to 60 percent, or even shut, based on their emission levels. Other industrial plants in coke, cement, casting and pharmaceutical sectors were also ordered to reduce output during the alert. Diesel-fueled trucks will also be restricted from transporting commodity materials, the website said.