Original Title: Notice on Issuing the “Interim Measures for the Management of Key Projects for Green, Low-Carbon, and High-Quality Development in Shandong Province”
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 To thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and promote the implementation of the "Opinions of the State Council on Supporting Shandong in Deepening the Transformation of New and Old Growth Drivers and Promoting Green, Low-Carbon, and High-Quality Development" (State Council Document [2022] No. 18), and in accordance with the requirements of the "Notice of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the People’s Government of Shandong Province on Issuing the <Three-Year Action Plan for Building a Pilot Zone for Green, Low-Carbon, and High-Quality Development in Shandong Province (2023–2025)>" (Shandong Document [2022] No. 19),and to effectively leverage the leading, supporting, and driving role of provincial key projects for green, low-carbon, and high-quality development (hereinafter referred to as “provincial high-quality development projects”) in deepening the transformation of old and new growth drivers and promoting green, low-carbon, and high-quality development, these Measures are hereby formulated.
Article 2 For the purposes of these Measures, “Provincial High-Quality Development Projects” refer to projects implemented within the administrative region of Shandong Province that comply with relevant national and provincial development plans and industrial policies, meet the construction standards and requirements for the Provincial Pilot Zone for Green, Low-Carbon, and High-Quality Development, and have been included in the Shandong Provincial Key Projects Supervision and Service Platform for implementation following a comprehensive evaluation and review conducted by the Provincial Development and Reform Commission in conjunction with relevant departments.
In accordance with the relevant deployment requirements of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government, other annual provincial-level key projects, excluding provincial major projects, shall be consolidated into Provincial High-Quality Development Projects.
Article 3: Based on their construction stage, Provincial High-Quality Development Projects are classified into construction projects and preparatory projects.
(1) Construction projects are those that can proceed smoothly during the current period and generate a certain amount of physical work output, including newly started projects and ongoing projects.
(2) Preparatory projects are reserve and planning projects that concern long-term and overarching interests and require accelerated efforts to establish construction conditions.
Article 4: Based on their respective sectors, provincial high-quality development projects are classified into four categories:
(1) Key Industries. These are primarily projects that promote the adjustment and transformation of the province’s industrial structure, including next-generation information technology, high-end equipment, modern energy, new materials, modern marine industries, healthcare and elderly care (industrial sector), high-end chemicals, modern and efficient agriculture, cultural and creative industries, premium tourism, modern light industry and textiles, and the digital economy.
(2) Infrastructure Projects. These are primarily modern infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening foundations, enhancing functionality, and ensuring long-term benefits, including railways, highways, modern airports, water transport, modern water networks, urban rail transit, modern logistics, new-type infrastructure, and safety and emergency facilities.
(3) Social Welfare and Livelihoods. These are primarily projects aimed at promoting the development of social undertakings, improving people’s livelihoods, and addressing shortcomings, including municipal public utilities, rural development, pollution control, ecological protection and restoration, energy-saving and environmental protection industries, education, healthcare and elderly care (public service sector), and affordable housing projects.
(4) Platform Support Category. This primarily includes projects that promote scientific and technological innovation, expand openness, and support industrial development, such as innovation platforms, platforms for opening up to the outside world, industrial parks, and modern financial services.
Chapter II Project Selection
Article 5 Provincial high-quality development projects shall be subject to centralized and unified application procedures, with the Provincial Development and Reform Commission regularly formulating and issuing application notices. Applications for provincial high-quality development projects must meet the following conditions:
(1) Projects must align with the province’s efforts to deepen the transformation of growth drivers and promote green, low-carbon, and high-quality development; they must conform to national and provincial economic and social development plans, territorial spatial plans, and relevant specialized plans; and they must meet the requirements of national and provincial policies.
(2) The project shall play a strong leading, supporting, and driving role within the relevant industry or sector.
1. Key industrial projects shall focus on the “Ten Major Industries” and the “Four New” economic development, emphasizing advanced industrialization technologies and reliable large-scale production processes, particularly projects that master core technologies, overcome “bottleneck” constraints, and fill gaps in the province’s industrial chains.
2. Infrastructure projects should focus on optimizing the layout, structure, functions, and system integration of the province’s infrastructure, with an emphasis on projects that accelerate the construction of a modern infrastructure system.
3. Social welfare and livelihood projects should focus on safeguarding and improving people’s livelihoods and enhancing their well-being, with an emphasis on social public service projects that address shortcomings, strengthen weak areas, and improve quality, as well as projects related to green and low-carbon development and ecological environmental protection.
4. Platform Support Projects: Focus on strengthening scientific and technological innovation, expanding openness to the outside world, and enhancing service capabilities. Emphasis is placed on innovation platforms, open platforms, and service support facilities that have significant regional and industry influence.
(3) The project’s technology is mature, with no major uncertainties regarding industrialization. The construction scale is reasonable and commensurate with the project entity’s investment capacity and market demand. Preliminary work for the construction project is solid, ensuring that construction can commence and the annual investment plan can be completed on schedule in accordance with laws and regulations; for preparatory projects, there is a reasonable expectation that approval procedures will be completed in accordance with laws and regulations.
(4) The project entity possesses strong capabilities, including financial strength, technical expertise, and talent support commensurate with project implementation; it strictly complies with relevant national and provincial laws, regulations, and policies, and has no major violations or irregularities in areas such as workplace safety, business operations, environmental protection, or social credit.
(5) Projects shall encompass various types of investment entities, encouraging fair and orderly competition to foster a market-oriented project development framework characterized by diversified investment entities and multi-channel funding sources.
Article 6: Application materials for provincial high-quality development projects shall primarily include the following:
(1) The official application document for the project.
(2) Information on the project entity. This primarily includes industry standing, market share, financial status, R&D team and achievements, and successful case studies. For foreign investors, the actual controller of the project and the source of funds must be specified.
(3) Basic project information. This primarily includes the project’s background, proposed site selection, total investment and its composition, funding sources, annual investment plan, construction timeline, scope and scale of construction, production capacity, technological advantages, market prospects, safety and environmental protection measures, resource and energy consumption, economic and social benefits, and the project’s exemplary and catalytic role in advancing the industry and regional development.
(4) Supporting Documents.These primarily include approval documents or opinions from relevant industry authorities regarding project approval, environmental impact assessments, land use, planning, and energy assessments; supporting documents regarding the source, advanced nature, and maturity of the technology; industry access certificates; the entity’s business license; bank credit ratings; financial statements audited by independent professional institutions for the past two years; proof of own funds; bank loan agreements; and statements or legal documents in which the project entity assumes responsibility for the authenticity of the application materials and supporting documents.
Article 7: Application Process for Provincial High-Quality Development Projects.
(1) Municipal and county (district, city) development and reform departments shall identify and compile eligible projects within their jurisdictions, consult with relevant competent authorities to propose a list of applicants, and submit it through official channels to the Provincial Development and Reform Commission.
(2) Infrastructure projects such as railways, expressways, and water transport that span multiple prefecture-level cities shall submit applications to the relevant provincial industry authorities, which shall formulate a list of proposed projects and submit it to the Provincial Development and Reform Commission via official documents.
Article 8 Provincial high-quality development projects shall be determined in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) The Provincial Development and Reform Commission, in conjunction with relevant provincial departments, shall organize professional teams to conduct comprehensive evaluations and assessments of the submitted projects.
(2) The Provincial Development and Reform Commission shall coordinate and analyze opinions from all relevant parties, propose a list of provincial high-quality development projects, and publish it through official channels in accordance with established procedures.
Chapter III Project Management and Services
Article 9: Provincial high-quality development projects shall be incorporated into the Shandong Provincial Key Projects Supervision and Service Platform for scheduling and advancement. The Provincial Development and Reform Commission shall regularly track and monitor the construction status of provincial high-quality development projects, including completed investment, physical progress, and on-site photographs, and shall submit a comprehensive analysis of progress to the Leading Group for the Construction of the Provincial Pilot Zone for Green, Low-Carbon, and High-Quality Development.
Article 10: The construction of provincial high-quality development projects shall adhere to the principles of conservation and intensive use to effectively improve the efficiency of factor resource allocation. Relevant departments at all levels responsible for factor resource allocation shall, in accordance with the provincial government’s requirement that “factors follow projects,” and subject to compliance with laws, regulations, and relevant policies regarding planning, natural resources, and environmental protection, comprehensively increase support and guarantees for provincial high-quality development projects in terms of land, energy consumption, coal consumption, pollutant emissions, and funding.
(1) New land use quotas required for provincial high-quality development projects shall be allocated by level and category in accordance with annual land use planning and management policies.
(2) Provincial high-quality development projects that meet the requirements may utilize carbon emission quotas held in reserve by the provincial government.
(3) Strictly implement the requirements of “replacing old with new,” “replacing small with large,” “replacing low with high,” and “replacing scattered with integrated.” Total pollutant emission quotas released through reduction and withdrawal shall be prioritized for use in provincial high-quality development projects.In accordance with the principle of “establishing new projects before phasing out old ones,” the total pollutant emission quotas required for provincial high-quality development projects may be advanced from the pollutant reduction volumes generated by existing enterprises, facilities, or remediation projects scheduled for replacement or shutdown during the 14th Five-Year Plan period; pollutant reduction plans must be fully completed before the new projects commence operations.
(4) During the water withdrawal permit application process, provide policy consultation for provincial high-quality development projects and organize experts to provide services such as early involvement in technical reviews.
(5) On the premise that enterprises and financial institutions make independent decisions and assume their own risks, organize financial institutions to conduct one-on-one matchmaking with provincial high-quality development projects in need of financing; assign financial advisors; and strengthen incentives in areas such as preferential interest rates, capital guarantees, and approval timelines to help resolve financing issues.
(6) Support eligible provincial high-quality development projects in securing central budgetary funds, utilizing special-purpose bonds, policy-based financial instruments, and issuing corporate bonds. Encourage and guide various government investment funds and market-oriented industrial investment funds to invest in eligible provincial high-quality development projects in accordance with market principles.
Energy and coal consumption guarantees for provincial high-quality development projects shall be implemented in accordance with the deployment and requirements of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government.
Article 11 Provincial high-quality development projects shall be managed under the principle of territorial jurisdiction. All departments at various levels shall, in accordance with the principles of graded responsibility and coordinated collaboration, effectively utilize the service mechanism for the implementation of key projects and the “Four Ones” coordination and promotion mechanism to help resolve difficulties and bottlenecks encountered during project construction.
Article 12: A dynamic adjustment mechanism for provincial high-quality development projects shall be established. The Provincial Development and Reform Commission shall conduct regular comprehensive evaluations of the implementation of provincial high-quality development projects. Adjustments shall be made in accordance with the relevant provisions of these Measures under the following circumstances:
(1) New projects with solid preliminary work and mature conditions shall be added through a merit-based selection process in accordance with established procedures.
(2) Projects that are difficult to continue implementing due to adjustments in industrial policies, significant market changes, or other reasons shall be removed from the list.
(3) Projects found to have submitted false materials, reported false data, failed to comply with online and offline management regulations, or engaged in other illegal or non-compliant activities shall be removed from the list.
(4) For projects in the preparation stage, periodic evaluations shall be conducted; those meeting the conditions for commencement shall be promptly reclassified as construction projects.
(5) Information on provincial high-quality development projects that have already been completed will no longer be tracked.
(6) Other circumstances requiring adjustment.
Chapter IV Duties and Responsibilities
Article 13 The Provincial Development and Reform Commission serves as the lead agency for provincial high-quality development projects. It shall organize, in accordance with established procedures, the centralized selection of projects, timely additions, dynamic adjustments, monitoring and analysis, and supervision and support services. It shall take the lead in coordinating solutions to bottlenecks and difficulties encountered during project implementation, issue notifications and follow up on issues related to inadequate organizational management or project progress, and promptly report major issues to the Provincial Leading Group for the Construction of the Pilot Zone for Green, Low-Carbon, and High-Quality Development.
Article 14. The development and reform departments of each city, county (city, district), and the competent industry authorities are the units directly responsible for the application and daily supervision of provincial high-quality development projects. They shall, in accordance with the principle of territorial management, take the lead in managing and providing services for provincial high-quality development projects within their respective jurisdictions, and shall be responsible for the authenticity of project application materials and implementation progress.
Article 15. Provincial departments responsible for projects spanning multiple prefecture-level cities shall take the lead in managing and providing services for such projects within their respective sectors and shall be responsible for the authenticity of project application materials and implementation progress.
Article 16: Provincial departments, in accordance with their respective responsibilities, shall be responsible for industry guidance, policy implementation, and supervision and support services for provincial high-quality development projects. They shall earnestly implement the “One-Stop Service” requirement, establish and improve green channels, and expedite the processing of procedures throughout the entire project implementation process.
Article 17. Departments responsible for ensuring the supply of key resources at all levels—including development and reform, finance, natural resources, ecological environment, local finance, and the People’s Bank of China—shall, in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and policy provisions and based on their respective responsibilities, innovate service methods, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resource allocation, and actively serve and support the reasonable needs for the advancement and implementation of provincial high-quality development projects.
Article 18: The project entity is the implementing and responsible party for provincial high-quality development projects and bears full responsibility for the organization and management of project construction. It shall provide authentic and valid application materials as required.They shall strictly comply with national laws, regulations, industrial policies, and requirements regarding safety, environmental protection, and energy conservation; complete all necessary construction application and approval procedures in accordance with laws and regulations; and scientifically organize project implementation in accordance with the planned scale, scope, and schedule. In accordance with the relevant requirements for the management of provincial high-quality development projects, they shall promptly and accurately report on project progress and actively cooperate with the supervision and guidance services provided by relevant departments.
Article 19: Any unit or individual found to have engaged in fraud, shirking responsibility, abuse of power, dereliction of duty, or malfeasance in the course of organizing applications, submitting information, or providing management services for provincial high-quality development projects shall be held accountable in accordance with laws, discipline, and regulations.
Chapter V Supplementary Provisions
Article 20: The Provincial Development and Reform Commission shall be responsible for interpreting these Measures, which shall take effect on August 1, 2023, and remain valid until July 31, 2025.
Appendix: Classification Catalog of Key Projects for Green, Low-Carbon, and High-Quality Development in Shandong Province.doc
