Listed Chinese companies in heavily polluting industries are to be required to inform investors of environmenal accidents, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced Tuesday.

A draft guideline for listed companies to release environment-related information was announced Tuesday on the ministry's website to solicit public opinions.

According to the draft, listed companies in 16 heavily polluting industries, including thermal power, steel, cement and electrolytic aluminum, will have to release information about their pollutant emissions and management of environmental impacts annually.

In addition, a listed company will have to inform investors of details of environmental accidents, including the date, location, casualties and damage, within a day of its occurrence, the draft rules said.

Any listed company that is punished, fined, suspended or shut down by the authorities for environmental reasons must inform investors of the violations, punishment and remedy measures within a day of receiving the penalty, the draft said.

Individuals and organizations were invited to submit opinions and recommendations on the draft rules by fax or e-mail by Sept. 25, said a ministry statement.

The formal rules would be announced soon, but the statement gave no exact date.

The rules were expected to force companies publish environment information promptly and precisely, the statement said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2010)