Implementation plan for peak carbon dioxide emissions in non-ferrous metals industry

 In November 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment jointly issued the "Implementation Plan for peak carbon dioxide emissions in the non-ferrous metal industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Implementation Plan"). The "Implementation Plan" focuses on the two critical periods of peak carbon dioxide emissions in the "14th Five-Year Plan" and "15th Five-Year Plan", and proposes phased goals before 2025 and 2030.

The "14th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical period for the non-ferrous metal industry to deeply adjust its industrial structure, accelerate the construction of a clean energy system, and develop and apply green and low-carbon technologies. Key varieties should continue to promote energy-saving transformation and upgrading according to the energy efficiency benchmark level to reduce carbon emission intensity. The "14th Five-Year" Circular Economy Development Plan proposes that my country's production of recycled non-ferrous metals will reach 20 million tons in 2025, of which the output of recycled copper, recycled aluminum and recycled lead will reach 4 million tons, 11.50 million tons, and 2.90 million tons respectively. Therefore, the "Implementation Plan" proposes that before 2025, the non-ferrous metal industry structure and energy consumption structure will be significantly optimized, important progress will be made in the research and development and application of low-carbon processes, and the energy consumption and carbon emission intensity of key varieties per unit product will be further reduced, and the supply of recycled metals will account for more than 24%.

  During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, my country will establish a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, and by 2030, an energy production and consumption pattern in which non-fossil energy sources replace fossil energy stocks on a large scale will be formed. The proportion of renewable energy is further increased, the energy consumption structure of the non-ferrous metal industry is greatly improved, and the industrial green development system is basically formed. Therefore, the "Implementation Plan" proposes that by 2030, the energy consumption structure of the non-ferrous metal industry will be greatly improved, the proportion of renewable energy used by electrolytic aluminum will reach more than 30%, and an industrial system of green, low-carbon and circular development will be basically established.

    Smelting is the core link of carbon emissions in the non-ferrous metal industry, and optimizing the scale of smelting capacity is an important means to achieve peak carbon dioxide emissions. In recent years, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other four departments have jointly carried out special projects to clean up and rectify illegal and illegal projects of electrolytic aluminum, shutting down and suspending a large number of illegally built and under-construction production capacity, adhering to the constraints on total production capacity, strictly implementing capacity replacement, and strictly controlling new production capacity have achieved remarkable results. The next step is to continue to deepen the supply-side structural reform and consolidate the results of resolving excess production capacity of electrolytic aluminum. At the same time, copper, lead, zinc, alumina and other varieties also have the risk of blind expansion of smelting capacity, and the green and low-carbon development level of industrial silicon, magnesium and other industries needs to be improved urgently. To this end, the "Implementation Plan" proposes to focus on smelting links with high energy consumption and large carbon emissions, consolidate the achievements of supply-side structural reform, and study differentiated reduction and replacement policies on the basis of the preliminary work of the electrolytic aluminum industry; for consumption Key varieties such as copper, lead, zinc, and alumina with limited incremental demand emphasize preventing disorderly expansion of smelting capacity; for industrial silicon, magnesium and other industries with large consumption potential, strengthen policy guidance to promote the formation of a higher level of supply and demand dynamic balance. Give full play to the restrictive roles of energy consumption, carbon emissions, and environmental protection, and promote the transformation of the non-ferrous metal industry from "seeking big by quantity" to "strengthening by quality" by raising the entry threshold for new and expanded smelting projects.

Technological innovation is an important driving force for promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction. To promote the green and low-carbon development of the non-ferrous metal industry, it is necessary to give full play to the support and leading role of scientific and technological innovation in the field of green and low-carbon, guide the upgrading of process technology and equipment in key industries, deploy cutting-edge technology research, encourage original innovation, strengthen the promotion and application of innovative achievements, and promote the continuous realization of new breakthroughs in energy conservation and carbon reduction technologies. To this end, the "Implementation Plan" proposes to formulate a roadmap for the development of green and low-carbon technologies in the non-ferrous metal industry, and clarify the direction of key technology research and development, application and promotion before 2030; strengthen the dominant position of enterprises in green and low-carbon innovation, and encourage enterprises to carry out energy-saving and carbon-reduction technologies. Transformation, create demonstration applications for major energy-saving and carbon-reducing transformation, and drive the improvement of the overall energy efficiency level of the industry; support leading enterprises in the industry to build low-carbon innovation carriers for non-ferrous metals, gather advantageous forces to carry out common key technologies, cutting-edge leading technology research and demonstration applications, and promote enterprises Continue to optimize the process flow; provide continuous power for energy conservation and carbon reduction in the non-ferrous metal industry through technology research and development, reserve and application.

  The "Implementation Plan" proposes to strengthen technical energy conservation and carbon reduction, study and formulate a low-carbon technology development roadmap, build an innovative carrier for the low-carbon manufacturing industry of non-ferrous metals, and carry out common key technologies such as waste heat recovery, and cutting-edge leading technologies such as ammonia-based zinc smelting. Disruptive technologies such as primary aluminum low-carbon smelting and demonstration applications; vigorously promote the technological transformation of advanced energy-saving processes, and promote energy-saving and emission-reduction technologies such as high-efficiency and stable aluminum electrolysis, copper matte continuous blowing, and regenerative vertical tank magnesium smelting. This is the industry's realization of peak carbon dioxide emissions and the key and core of green and low-carbon development.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, my country's non-ferrous metal industry has undergone tremendous changes. Non-carbon reduction processes such as oxygen-enriched smelting and hydrometallurgy have gradually become the mainstream of non-ferrous metal production such as copper, lead, and tin, making the energy consumption and carbon emissions of non-ferrous metal production. Taking copper smelting as an example, in 2020, the comprehensive energy consumption of copper smelting in the country will be reduced by nearly 80% compared with 2000, the consumption of crude copper coke will be reduced by 87% compared with 2000, and the consumption of crude copper coal will be reduced by 80% compared with 2000. The decline in energy consumption has greatly reduced the carbon dioxide emissions of copper smelting. " Combined with my country's national conditions and the current situation of industry technology development, the Implementation Plan focuses on major varieties such as aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, magnesium, and silicon, and puts forward a series of key directions, which is conducive to accurately implementing policies to break through the bottleneck of peak carbon dioxide emissions. Especially at present, important progress has been made in the large-scale technology of aluminum electrolyzer and alumina production line, new energy-saving technology of steady flow thermal insulation aluminum electrolyzer, low-grade copper mine green cycle biological copper extraction technology, green, high-efficiency and short-process large-scale flotation equipment complete technology, large-scale zinc concentrate Roasting technology, large-diameter vertical tank double regenerative bottom slag magnesium smelting technology, large-scale ore furnace silicon production technology, etc. Its vigorous promotion and application can further reduce energy consumption and carbon emission intensity per unit product, and improve the industry's energy saving and carbon reduction level.

The Implementation Plan proposes six safeguard measures. The first is to strengthen overall planning and coordination. Clarify the division of responsibilities among relevant departments, local governments, and leading enterprises in the industry, and strengthen implementation. The second is to strengthen incentives and constraints. Implement differentiated policies to support enterprises to carry out green and low-carbon technology research, transformation and upgrading. The third is to strengthen financial support. Encourage Financial Institution Groups to use financing, bonds, futures, funds and other financial means to promote the implementation of green and low-carbon projects and the sustainable development of enterprises. The fourth is to improve the standard measurement system. Gradually improve the accounting verification, evaluation, technology, management services and other standards and measurement systems related to carbon emissions, and formulate and revise the energy consumption quota standards for key varieties. Fifth, improve public services. Build a public service platform for green and low-carbon development in the non-ferrous metal industry, encourage enterprises to form low-carbon development alliances, and promote coordinated carbon reduction. Sixth, strengthen demonstration and guidance. Give full play to the leading and driving role of pilot projects such as enterprises and parks, promote experience and practices, and create a good environment for the green and low-carbon development of the industry.