SEPA's deputy director, Pan Yue said the two companies have shut down problematic generators for environmental evaluation, and launched a bid to install water recycling and desulphurisation facilities in the plants.

The ban for Huaneng, Guodian and Laiwu came on January 10. Pan noted the approval ban is part of the government's measures to meet its emission reduction targets for the eleventh five-year plan.

He urged the power companies to enhance internal management and ensure that all their projects comply with environmental protection laws and regulations. He also asked the power producers to update their existing generators and discard those that cause serious pollution.

Pan also said that progress has been made in rectifying those 82 works in the steel, power, metallurgy and chemical sectors that have seriously violated environmental protection laws.

18 of the 82 projects that have failed to install pollution control facilities have now finished or are conducting acceptance monitoring for construction, he said.