Listed Chinese companies in heavily polluting industries will be required to inform investors of environmental accidents, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced on September 14.

A draft guideline for listed companies to release environment-related information was unveiled 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 authorities for environmental reasons must inform investors of the violations, punishment and remedy measures within a day of receiving the penalty, the draft said.