(Yicai Global) Oct. 19 -- The cement industry in China's northeasternmost province of Heilongjiang will shut down from Nov. 1 for five months to ease the pressure on local environmental protection, a government directive posted on cement.com.cn shows.

To improve air quality in heating period, all cement clinker manufacturing companies in Heilongjiang will fully adopt peak-alternating production, per the document, which Heilongjiang's industry and information technology and environmental protection department jointly drafted.

It also imposes legal penalties on any cement company engaging in unauthorized production.