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Striving for Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction to Promote the Development of the Non-ferrous Metals Industry 2008-2-26 Source: China Non-ferrous Metals Network China’s 11th Five-Year Plan outlines a target to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by about 20% during this period, as well as to cut the total emissions of key pollutants by 10%. To achieve this energy-saving goal in the non-ferrous metals industry, it is necessary to employ both the additive approach of improving industrial technology levels and promoting resource recycling, as well as the subtractive approach; that is, during structural adjustments, enterprises and products characterized by \"three lows and two highs\" – low added value, low quality, low price, as well as high energy consumption and high pollution – should be restricted and reduced. Since 2007, non-ferrous metal enterprises have attached great importance to energy conservation and emission reduction efforts; many of them have held meetings on this topic, formulated work plans, and identified key measures to take. The non-ferrous metals industry adheres to a path of new-type industrialization, regarding energy conservation, emission reduction, and independent innovation as key tasks in protecting the environment and transforming the mode of economic development, thereby achieving good economic and social benefits. Companies such as China Aluminium Corporation, Yunnan Copper (Group) Co., Ltd., Jinchuan Group Company, and Yunnan Tin Group (Holding) Co., Ltd. are key players in the non-ferrous metals industry, and they are also major consumers of resources and energy. In recent years, these enterprises have made great efforts to focus on energy conservation and emission reduction in their development, thereby achieving simultaneous progress in environmental protection and economic efficiency. On September 9, 2007, in order to thoroughly implement the relevant directives from **** and the State Council regarding energy conservation and emission reduction, and to further advance efforts in this area within the non-ferrous metals industry, a national conference on energy conservation and emission reduction in the non-ferrous metals industry was held in Jinchang, Gansu. **Zeng Peiyan, member of the Central **Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, issued important instructions for the meeting: The non-ferrous metals industry is a key sector for energy conservation and emission reduction, with great potential and significant responsibilities. It is necessary to take advantage of the current period of good performance in the industry, and use energy conservation and emission reduction as key strategies and breakthrough points for transforming the mode of growth and adjusting the industrial structure. Backward production capacities should be phased out, and technological progress accelerated, in order to lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the industry. In 2007, Chalco’s alumina production increased by 8.8% on a year-on-year basis, reaching over 10 million tons and ranking second in the world ； Production of aluminum and aluminum alloys increased by 20.7% ； Aluminum processed products rose by 27.4% ； Cathode copper production increased by 20.6% ； Copper processed products increased by 13.8%. Meanwhile, in 2007, Chinalco’s comprehensive energy consumption for alumina production decreased by 1.24% on a year-on-year basis ； The comprehensive AC power consumption for aluminum ingots decreased by 1.38% on a year-on-year basis ； The comprehensive energy consumption of aluminum products decreased by 9.37% on a year-on-year basis ； The comprehensive energy consumption of copper products decreased by 8.14% on a year-on-year basis. Compared to 2006, a total of 590,000 tons of standard coal was saved throughout the year, with a sulfur dioxide emission reduction rate of 5%. 3%, a 14.2% reduction in dust emissions, a 3.9% reduction in industrial wastewater emissions, and a 15.7% reduction in COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) emissions. In 2007, the total assets and sales revenue of Chalco’s Henan branch both exceeded 10 billion yuan once again, following the trend seen in 2006; the profits generated and taxes paid amounted to 1.6 billion yuan and 1.4 billion yuan respectively. Wang Xihui, the company’s general manager, said that both the total asset value and sales revenue have exceeded 10 billion for two consecutive years, which is a result of the company’s thorough implementation of the scientific development concept and its active efforts to reduce energy consumption and emissions. ” Compared to 2001, the company’s energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of output value, energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of added value, and water consumption per 10,000 yuan of added value decreased by 64%, 31%, and 43%, respectively. The reuse rate of industrial water exceeded 90%. Over these 6 years, the company saved 622,000 tons of standard coal in terms of energy consumption and 6.13 million tons of water, thus fulfilling ahead of schedule the energy-saving targets set by Henan Province and Zhengzhou City for the 11th Five-Year Plan period. In the first half of 2007, Yuntong Group managed to increase the overall copper smelting recovery rate, the rough copper smelting recovery rate, the zinc smelting recovery rate, and the utilization rate of total sulfur by 1.04%, 0.74%, 2.0%, and 0.9% respectively compared with the same period the previous year. Yunye Group’s second-phase technological upgrades for Yunaluminum Company have resulted in a comprehensive current efficiency of 96% for aluminum electrolysis, a gas collection efficiency of 98% for the electrolytic cells, a dust removal efficiency of 99%, a fluoride purification efficiency of 98.8%, and a reuse rate of 100% for industrial water. The overall electricity consumption per ton of aluminum ingot is 1,500 kWh less than the average level in the domestic industry; in 2007, 567 million kWh of electricity was saved, resulting in cost savings of nearly 200 million yuan. YunAl was recognized as a \"**Environmentally Friendly Enterprise**\" and awarded the \"Baosteel Environment Award\". Gansu Hualu Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd. regards resource and energy conservation as well as environmental protection as fundamental requirements for implementing the scientific development concept and promoting the sound and rapid development of the enterprise; it continuously emphasizes the importance of energy conservation and emission reduction, achieving 50 million kWh of electricity savings throughout 2007. The company makes full use of the \"anode carbon protection ring\" technology as well as the \"projects for utilizing waste heat from anode systems and implementing energy-saving and environmental protection upgrades\", in order to reduce anode consumption. It also achieves comprehensive utilization of waste paste and waste pitch generated during the anode system manufacturing process. By adopting new technologies, it extends the lifespan of furnaces, kilns, and tanks, thereby reducing solid waste emissions ； Strictly manage the operation and maintenance of environmental protection facilities to ensure their continuous and stable operation, improve the efficiency of dust collection and purification by these facilities; the effective operation rate of such facilities should be over 98%, thereby ensuring a significant reduction in uncontrolled emissions of waste gases ； Actively promote clean production to reduce the generation of pollutants at the source of production. In 2007, Chinalco Luoyang Copper, in line with the requirements for building resource-efficient and environment-friendly enterprises as well as the needs of market competition, fully implemented concepts related to energy conservation and emission reduction. It regarded improving product quality and reducing production costs through management innovation and technological advancement as an important aspect of management optimization and innovation. Starting with the basic aspects of energy management, the company has gradually established and improved an energy-saving management system that covers all employees, all aspects of operations, and the entire process. It continues to raise awareness among all employees regarding energy conservation. By leveraging management innovation and technological advancements, and by keeping in mind the actual needs of the company’s development, the company makes significant efforts to reduce energy consumption. As a result, the electricity consumption per unit of processed non-ferrous metals has decreased by 6.8%, while gas consumption per unit has dropped by 8.2% ； The recycling rate of circulating water reaches 83.54%. In 2007, Chinalco Luotong met all its environmental protection benchmarks, with the company’s sulfur dioxide emissions falling within the **specified standards ； The reuse rate of industrial wastewater is over 80%, and the compliance rate for pollutant emissions in wastewater is 70% ； The pass rate for powder (dust) is greater than 85%. The coverage rate of key pollution control facilities is 100%, and the synchronization rate between environmental protection facilities and production equipment is also 100%; it has been awarded the title of Advanced Unit in the Development of Cost-saving Enterprises within the national non-ferrous metals industry. Kang Yi, president of the China Non-ferrous Metals Industry Association, has emphasized that energy conservation and emission reduction are not only an urgent task at present but also a long-term and arduous one. To achieve the energy conservation and emission reduction goals in the non-ferrous metals industry, the key lies in strengthening leadership and ensuring strict implementation. It is essential to raise awareness and align thoughts and actions with the central government’s decisions and plans regarding energy conservation and emission reduction. All enterprises must integrate these practices into their development strategies, management systems, and daily operations, transforming the concepts, goals, and requirements related to energy conservation and emission reduction into the beliefs and actions of every employee. At present, China’s non-ferrous metals industry is increasing its financial investment, introducing new technologies and processes, and actively seeking effective ways to help enterprises reduce energy consumption and emissions while improving efficiency, thereby making steady progress in energy conservation and emission reduction efforts. 2008 will be a year of tangible progress in energy conservation and emission reduction.