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As the \"dual carbon\" goal becomes the core objective for the high-quality development of industry in the new era, the steel industry, as a key area for green transformation, is undergoing a profound change that has far-reaching implications. As a leader in Shanxi Province’s advanced steel manufacturing sector and part of the low-carbon industrial chain based on the integrated production of steel, coke, chemicals, and hydrogen, Shanxi Jinan Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd. has always embraced its responsibilities as a key player in the country’s development. It has made green and low-carbon practices as well as energy efficiency improvements core elements of its strategic development. In the China Iron and Steel Association’s three-year initiative to improve energy efficiency, the company took the lead in this effort; by investing 1.802 billion yuan, it achieved energy savings equivalent to 95,600 tons of standard coal per year, generating direct energy savings worth 389 million yuan. The company established a comprehensive system for improving energy efficiency, one that relies on systematic planning, dedicated teams, technological advancements, and digital solutions. In doing so, it created a new model for energy efficiency improvement in the steel industry that can be replicated and applied elsewhere, thereby contributing significantly to the green and low-carbon transformation of China’s steel industry. Strategic guidance and systematic planning: Setting the overall direction for improving energy efficiency. Recognizing that enhancing energy efficiency is the essential path for steel companies to achieve high-quality development, Jinnan Steel has made it a \"vital project\" for the company’s survival and growth, using top-level planning to address the challenges related to energy conservation in this industry. Since the launch of the energy efficiency benchmarking initiative, the company promptly established a dedicated task force and invited renowned industry experts to conduct comprehensive and in-depth energy efficiency audits. Systematic evaluations were carried out from three perspectives: management optimization, technological innovation, and structural adjustment, resulting in 56 specific measures for improvement. Of these, 39 management-related measures are implemented in conjunction with 17 fixed-asset investment projects, with both approaches working together to achieve better results. By establishing a full-cycle management mechanism of \"goal decomposition, project implementation, assignment of responsibilities, and closed-loop evaluation of outcomes\", it ensures that every investment is directed at the key areas related to energy consumption, and that each measure targets the critical factors for improving energy efficiency. This approach transforms the 1.802 billion yuan in investments into tangible energy-saving results, setting a strategic investment model for the industry characterized by \"targeted actions and efficient outcomes\". Special task forces for targeted efforts and precise management: establishing a solid foundation for tangible results. The key to improving energy efficiency lies in implementation, with perseverance being the core factor. In 2023, Jinan South Steel established a \"Special Task Force for Maximizing Energy Efficiency\" headed by the president, in order to break down departmental barriers and foster collaborative efforts across different functions and processes. Adhering to management principles of \"setting goals, assigning responsibilities, implementing projects, and using checklists,\" the organization broke down its ambitious strategic goals into annual, quarterly, and monthly targets, ensuring that everyone had clear responsibilities and that each project had a specific plan of action. A mechanism of “monthly progress meetings + dynamic control records” has been established. The direction of work is guided by three lists: one for problems, one for tasks, and one for achievements. The effectiveness of the work is assessed using two standards: quantitative energy consumption criteria and efficiency evaluation criteria. By relying on a real-time energy data monitoring system, it is possible to uncover potential for energy savings and dynamically evaluate the results. This approach ensures that meticulous management is applied throughout the entire process of improving energy efficiency, thereby guaranteeing that all measures are effectively implemented and yield positive results. It provides an example of management that features coordinated efforts from all levels and thorough implementation in a closed-loop manner. Technological innovation for comprehensive empowerment: activating a powerful engine for energy savings and carbon reduction. Technological innovation is the key to improving energy efficiency, as well as the fundamental driving force behind green transformation. Jinnan Steel follows the T50/T80 energy efficiency technology guidelines issued by the China Iron and Steel Association to promote the widespread application of advanced energy-saving technologies across all production processes and scenarios, thereby achieving a significant improvement in the energy efficiency levels in each stage of production. In the coking process, 10 measures were taken, including adjusting the coke receiving mode using No. 3 dry quenching equipment, altering the business model, replacing grid bricks in the second-phase coke ovens, and upgrading the air compressors in the second-phase coking unit, thereby reducing the emission by 7.971 kgce/t. Blast Furnace 1 achieved a reduction of 8.38 kgce/t through 6 measures, including platform + funnel feeding, increasing the size of ore batches, intelligent combustion in the hot blast stoves, and optimizing the operating procedures for these stoves. Through 11 measures such as the retrofitting of Converter No. 3 using sensorless servo energy-saving technology, the optimization of the constant-flame operation in steel/iron ladle dryers, and the optimization of delayed recovery of converter gas, a total reduction of 4.11 kgce/t was achieved. The auxiliary systems feature first-class energy efficiency as well as nationally leading smart air compressor stations; green equipment such as permanent magnet speed regulators, magnetic suspension blowers, and high-efficiency energy-saving motors are used on a large scale. At the same time, frequency conversion upgrades are carried out for fans and water pumps, along with the use of distributed photovoltaic power generation to meet internal energy needs, resulting in an annual savings of 150 million kWh. This approach helps to establish a stable and efficient green energy supply network. What is even more noteworthy is that Jinan South Steel has strengthened cooperation between the enterprise and local authorities to advance projects for using low-grade waste heat for urban heating; it supplies 920,200 GJ of heat annually, thereby reducing coal consumption by 31,500 tons and carbon emissions by 101,200 tons per year. This approach achieves a harmonious integration of ecological, social, and economic benefits, providing a replicable and scalable model for the low-carbon transformation of the steel industry. Integration of digital and intelligent technologies for smart management: Unlocking a \"new paradigm\" for lean management. Digitalization and intelligence serve as \"accelerators\" for improving energy efficiency in modern industry. Jinnan Steel actively embraces digital transformation, promoting the deep integration of cutting-edge technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and digital twins with energy management, in order to create an integrated smart energy management platform for sensing, decision-making, and optimization. The digital twin of the coking process enables smart coking, while the blast furnace big data platform facilitates intelligent ironmaking. The intelligent water control system for sinter ore sets a precedent for automatic closed-loop water control in this industry. Intelligent scheduling systems for steel production and crane operation use AI algorithms to shorten production cycles and improve energy efficiency. The application of these intelligent systems helps shift energy management from being experience-driven to data-driven, promotes coordination across different processes and between various positions, and ensures that lean management principles are applied throughout the entire production chain, providing valuable insights for digitalization and energy savings in this industry. This announcement regarding the acceptance and recognition of the \"Best Practices for Carbon Neutrality: Energy-Efficient Model Processes/Equipment\" represents a high acknowledgment of Jinnan Steel’s achievements in green and low-carbon development, and it also marks a new starting point for the company to pursue higher levels of quality development. Looking to the future, Jinan South Steel will always adhere to the development path of \"high-endization, intelligence, and greenness.\" It will continue to build on its achievements in improving energy efficiency, deepen technological upgrades and refined management, and explore new avenues for green and low-carbon transformation. The company is committed to becoming a respected global leader in special steel, contributing a stronger \"Jinan South Steel force\" to the sustainable and high-quality development of the steel industry as well as to the achievement of the \"dual carbon\" goals!