Beijing firm to pay biggest air pollution fine under new rule

Beijing imposed a 300,000 yuan ($48,030) pollution penalty on a local company Monday, the largest fine since new pollution regulations started in March, environmental authorities said.

Babcock & Wilcox Beijing Company is facing administrative punishment due to the release of volatile organic compounds to the air. Later investigation showed that the electronic heater manufacturer in Shijingshan district often paints its heaters in open space covering 500,000 square meters and some 100 tons of anti-rust paint is used every year.

Beijing's environmental protection bureau said the company has been monitored and was punished twice by district and municipal environment authorities in the past two years.

The bureau delivered the administrative punishment decision on May 6 and the company must correct its behavior and pay the fine before June 1.

Beijing aims for a 25 percent reduction of PM2.5 by 2017, which many blame for causing the city's heavy smog. About 1 trillion yuan will be invested in the next five years in clean air efforts.