BEIJING: Wang Lanyu, a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and President of Hebei Iron and Steel Group (HBIS), one of the world’s largest steel producers, highlighted green and low-carbon transformation has become a general trend of global development.
“We’ve placed significant emphasis on advancing green transformation,” stated Wang Lanyu. He mentioned the completion of the first phase of a 1.2-million-ton hydrogen metallurgy demonstration project, a pioneering endeavour in hydrogen energy development and utilization within the steel industry. This project sets the precedent for the utilization of hydrogen energy in China’s steel sector.
Furthermore, HBIS’s acquisition of the Smederevo Steel Mill in April 2016 resulted in the establishment of HBIS Serbia Company, showcasing the cooperative efforts between China, the Middle East, and European countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Despite progress, Wang Lanyu acknowledges that the steel industry, being resource- and energy-intensive, still has a considerable distance to cover in accelerating its green transformation and development. At this year’s Two Sessions, Wang advocated for expediting the realization of low-carbon steel materials’ value, establishing green transformation demonstration zones in the steel industry, and enhancing the industry’s support system for green energy consumption.
China’s commitment to peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 underscores the urgency of transforming the steel industry into a low-carbon emitter, aligning with its long-term environmental goals. —APP
