To all units concerned,

　　In accordance with project activity design of the World Bank GEF Project - Environmentally Sustainable Development of the Iron and Steel Industry in China (hereinafter referred to as the Project), the Project will conduct BAT/BEP demonstration targeting 2 iron ore sintering production lines and 1 electric arc furnace steelmaking production line and conduct BAT/BEP replication of achievements and experience targeting 20 production lines during the implementation stage (of the full-sized project). On April 7, 2021, FECO issued the “Call for Expression of Interest for Enterprise Demonstration Activity for the World Bank GEF Project - Environmentally Sustainable Development of the Iron and Steel Industry in China”. At present, 1 iron ore sintering production line has been preliminarily selected as a candidate demonstration production line. According to the project plan and design, it is planned to select 2 more demonstration production lines (1 iron ore sintering production line and 1 electric arc furnace steelmaking production line) and 20 replication production lines. Therefore, the open call of eligible enterprises for participating in the project activities has hereby been initiated.

　　I. Work flow

　　The work flow mainly includes 2 stages:

　　1.Stage of enterprises selection (the present stage, March-December 2021): FECO issues a Call for Expression of Interest, and conducts evaluation and selection of enterprises based on the materials provided by the enterprises that responded to the Call. Enterprises that have been selected will have the opportunity to participate in the project preparation, have the priority to be put in the project appraisal document, and participate in the demonstration and replication activities of the project.

　　The application materials should specify the preference of participation: prioritized participation in demonstration activities or voluntary participation in replication activities if the project runs out of the demonstration quota; participation in demonstration activities only; participation in replication activities only.

　　2.Activity implementation stage (after approval of the full-sized project): According to the materials submitted by the enterprise and the previous evaluation results, FECO signs a demonstration or replication implementation agreement with the enterprise in accordance with the requirements of the World Bank. The enterprise carries out relevant activities in accordance with the implementation plan and the management requirements of the World Bank (including the management requirements under the World Bank’s environmental and social framework). FECO will organize and carry out activity evaluation and overall acceptance inspection.

　　II. Budget

　　1.Demonstration activities

　　No more than US$5 million of grant will be provided to support each demonstration production line, and a total of no more than US$8 million of grant will be provided to support the two demonstration production lines selected in this round. Grant funds can be used to develop and implement the implementation plan, including the provision of technical consulting services, goods and equipment reconstruction projects. The enterprise applying for the demonstration needs to provide co-financing of no less than 7 times of the grant to be applied for (including cash and in-kind provision of personnel, venues and equipment related to the ultra-low emission reconstruction invested after August 2019).

　　2.Replication activities

　　It’s planned to provide at least US$4 million of grant for 20 production lines (i.e. at least US$200,000 of grant can be applied for each production line). The grant can be used to carry out technical consulting services such as third-party monitoring, social environmental assessment, related training, and improvement of corporate management and operating systems, and part of the grant can be used to support the improvement and optimization of the replication production lines, such as dioxins emission control measures (BAT/BEP technology), dioxins monitoring facilities, etc., and training related management and operating personnel. The enterprise applying for replication activities needs to provide no less than US$5 million in co-financing (including cash and in-kind provision of personnel, venues and equipment related to the ultra-low emission reconstruction invested after August 2019). The remaining budget for demonstration will be reallocated to support the replication activities after the demonstration activity funds are determined.

　　For any enterprise interested in participating in the Demonstration (2nd Round) and Replication Activity of the GEF Project - Environmentally Sustainable Development of the Iron and Steel Industry in China, please contact FECO by submitting an Expression of Interest and supporting documents (see detailed requirements in Annex 1) by mail in hard copy (soft copy is needed as well) ASAP upon the issuance of this Call. FECO will review the application materials received before October 29th. In case the list of applied production lines is short of the expected number, this Call is valid for a long term.

　　Contacts:WANG Zeping, REN Zhiyuan

　　Tel.:010-82268587/8952

　　E-mail:zepingwong@outlook.com;

　　ren.zhiyuan@fecomee.org.cn

　　Add.:No. 5 Houyingfang Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing, China 100035

　　Annex： 1. Guide for Application for the Enterprise Demonstration (2nd Round) and Replication Activity of the World Bank GEF Project - Environmentally Sustainable Development of the Iron and Steel Industry in China

　　2. Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Enterprise Demonstration (2nd Round) and Replication Activity of the World Bank GEF Project - Environmentally Sustainable Development of the Iron and Steel Industry in China

　　Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center Ministry of Ecology and Environment

　　September 15, 2021