Leading green development in the nonferrous metals industry
Release Date:
2018-10-30
Author:
Over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up, while China has achieved remarkable economic success, the building of an ecological civilization and the protection of the environment have also faced significant challenges. The tension between economic and social development and environmental protection remains acute; the carrying capacity of resources and the environment is under severe strain; incidents of environmental pollution and degradation continue to occur; and ecological and environmental issues have become bottlenecks and weak links in sustainable development. For example, the electrolytic aluminum industry as a whole consumes 500 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, burns 180 million tons of standard coal, and generates over 450 million tons of carbon emissions, posing formidable tasks for environmental protection and emission reduction. China’s economy has shifted from a phase of rapid growth to one of high-quality development, with green development…
Over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up, while China has achieved remarkable economic progress, the building of an ecological civilization and the protection of the environment have also faced significant challenges: the tension between economic and social development and environmental protection remains acute; the carrying capacity of resources and the environment is under severe strain; incidents of environmental pollution and degradation continue to occur; and ecological and environmental issues have become bottlenecks and weak links in sustainable development. For example, in China, electrolytic… Aluminum The entire industry consumes 500 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, with a corresponding standard… Coal 180 million tons, with carbon emissions exceeding 450 million tons, posing a formidable challenge for environmental protection and emission reduction.
China’s economy has shifted from a phase of high-speed growth to one of high-quality development. Green development is both a key hallmark of high-quality growth and an intrinsic requirement for sustainable economic and social development, as well as an urgent aspiration of the people in the new era for a better life. General Secretary Xi Jinping has explicitly stated, “A sound ecological environment is…” most “Inclusive and people‑centered well‑being” calls for the entire society, particularly industrial enterprises, to resolutely embrace green, low‑carbon, high‑quality development, thereby continuously meeting the public’s growing demand for a beautiful ecological environment.
The nonferrous metals industry in which Chinalco Group operates Gold The aluminum industry is a vital sector that underpins both national economic development and people’s livelihoods, and it also stands at the forefront of energy conservation and emissions reduction. Taking China’s electrolytic aluminum industry as an example, significant gaps remain in achieving green development. First, the industrial layout is suboptimal: nearly 40% of the nation’s production capacity is concentrated in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, where environmental carrying capacity is severely strained. Second, the development model is unscientific: coal‑fired power still accounts for the majority of electricity used in aluminum production, whereas internationally, producing aluminum with clean energy sources such as hydropower has long been the norm. Compared with coal‑based smelting, using clean energy can cut carbon emissions by approximately 13 tonnes per tonne of aluminum, representing a reduction rate of up to 85%. Third, resource security is unsustainable: despite holding only about 3% of the world’s bauxite reserves, China supports more than 50% of global alumina and electrolytic aluminum output, leaving its resource‑supply capacity seriously inadequate; external dependence on bauxite has already exceeded 60%.
Under the overarching trend of high-quality development, China’s nonferrous metals industry—particularly the aluminum sector—must embrace the new development philosophy. Guided by the principles of building a resource‑conserving and environmentally friendly society, it must fulfill its responsibilities for ecological and environmental protection, promote clean production and the use of clean energy, and ensure that green and low‑carbon practices become the dominant theme of industrial development. At this year’s Two Sessions, in my capacity as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, I submitted a proposal calling for the implementation of a policy framework—“three encouragements, one phase-out, and strict controls”—to optimize the industrial layout of electrolytic aluminum. This approach would not only address the sector’s own developmental challenges but also contribute meaningfully to building a beautiful China and winning the battle for blue skies.
As a leading enterprise in the nonferrous metals industry, Chinalco will steadfastly take the lead in studying and implementing Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization, elevate environmental protection to a more prominent position, and, driven by a strong sense of political responsibility and historical mission, unswervingly pursue a new path of ecological priority and green development, thereby guiding the nonferrous metals sector toward sustainable, green growth.
First, we will intensify efforts to optimize and adjust industrial spatial planning. In light of the current situation—characterized by resource scarcity, near‑maximum environmental capacity, and unsustainable development in China’s nonferrous metals sector—we will fully leverage both domestic and international markets to continuously refine and optimize the industry’s spatial structure. Domestically, we will resolutely phase out outdated production capacity, strictly regulate conventional coal‑fired power generation for aluminum smelting, accelerate relocation to regions with ample environmental capacity, take the lead in concentrating operations in areas with energy advantages—particularly those rich in clean and new energy—and focus investment on underdeveloped, remote regions, while, throughout this process, most Maximize energy conservation and emissions reduction. Externally, further accelerate international expansion, expedite the transition to an open economy, leverage global resource allocation to build a worldwide industrial chain, export advanced domestic technologies, relocate excess domestic production capacity, and stimulate local economic and social development.
Second, we will accelerate the pace of high-quality development. We will increase investment in science and technology, strengthen research and development efforts on key technologies for energy conservation, emissions reduction, and comprehensive resource utilization, and focus on advancing a number of major, critical, and cross‑cutting technologies, striving to achieve breakthrough progress and create favorable conditions for bolstering energy efficiency and emission reductions. We will vigorously promote the integration of informatization and industrialization, carry out intelligent upgrades of traditional industries, and fully leverage the leading role of energy management to achieve systematic energy savings and consumption reductions. We will remain committed to the path of innovative development, continuously moving toward higher value‑added, end‑use‑oriented, and internationally competitive operations, shifting up the value chain and industrial chain to build new momentum and competitive advantages that enable Chinalco Group to lead the industry’s advancement.
Third, we will actively expand the scope of aluminum applications. As a high‑quality, lightweight “green metal,” aluminum offers the advantages of low energy consumption and reduced costs throughout its entire life cycle. We will fully leverage aluminum’s strengths in lightweighting, further advance research into aluminum‑based technologies, and continue to broaden its substitution for other materials in sectors such as transportation, construction, consumer electronics, and everyday products, thereby increasing the use of aluminum to replace steel and conserve resources. Copper Together with aluminum‑alloy wood‑based materials, it truly leverages the high energy‑density advantages of aluminum, driving society-wide efforts to conserve energy and reduce emissions.
Fourth, we will vigorously develop green and environmentally friendly industries. Seizing the unprecedented strategic opportunities presented by the current boom in environmental protection and energy‑saving sectors, we will make full use of the environmental‑protection and energy‑saving development platform company we have established in Xiong’an, accelerate the integration of our group’s internal environmental resources and market presence, conduct targeted research to master key environmental technologies, prioritize a number of pollution‑control and ecological‑restoration projects, and expand into external markets. Through three to five years of concerted effort, we aim to raise the platform company’s annual output value to over RMB 10 billion, achieve a domestic stock‑market listing, and become the largest environmental‑protection and energy‑saving enterprise in China’s nonferrous metals industry, thereby making a meaningful contribution to the country’s ecological‑civilization drive.
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