[The Hwankyung Ilbo] The Environment Ministry signed a ‘voluntary agreement to reduce fine dust in the high-concentration season’ with leading companies in five industries – iron and steal manufacture, private power generation, oil refining and petrochemicals.

The agreement aims to cope with the high concentration of fine dust from December through March in cooperation between the government and the industry to reduce emissions by the industrial sector, a large source of fine dust.

The 34 companies that participated in the agreement operate a total of 59 workplaces, and the ultrafine dust emitted from the sites is 20,000 tons per year (as of 2018), accounting for about 36 percent of the total emission from the sites equipped with the Tele-monitoring System (TMS).

In order to reduce fine dust emissions during the high concentration season, the companies participating in the agreement will set and operate stricter emission acceptance standards, which are stronger than the ones under the current law, and strengthen management of workplaces.

The Ministry of Environment will actively promote the industry's efforts to reduce fine dust, and plan to establish institutional support measures and expand the agreement for smooth implementation of the agreement.

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