Reporter Xu Yiming
In the context of achieving the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, the high energy consumption and high carbon emission industries represented by non-ferrous metals have attracted much market attention.
New energy batteries
It will drive the long-term growth of demand for metal varieties
As a non-ferrous metal country, China has the world's most sound scientific and technological chain, the most complete construction chain, the most complete industrial chain, the largest production capacity, and the largest market demand. According to the statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics, from January to February this year, 8820 non-ferrous metal industrial enterprises (including independent gold enterprises) achieved operating income of 878.84 billion yuan, an increase of 47.5% year-on-year. The total profit achieved was 36.68 billion yuan, an increase of 231.8% year-on-year.
In the context of carbon peaking, whether the non-ferrous metal industry can usher in the "curve overtaking" type of development opportunities, Luoyang Molybdenum Industry Board Secretary Yue Yuanbin said that in the context of carbon peaking, the global demand for new energy batteries will drive the long-term growth of copper, cobalt, nickel and other metal varieties, which has a significant boost to the non-ferrous metal industry. According to estimates, based on the estimation of the global average battery capacity of 53 kWh, the average copper and cobalt use per electric vehicle is 84 kg and 8 kg, respectively. Demand across the value chain for electric vehicles means an additional 4.08 million tonnes of copper by 2030. The growth of the demand side is a great development opportunity for the non-ferrous metal industry.
"The non-ferrous metal industry itself is also actively pursuing energy transition and cleaner production, which is a challenge for everyone. In the production of mineral products, it is necessary to replace fossil energy with renewable energy sources as much as possible and reduce emissions in the production process. It will optimize the industrial layout of the non-ferrous metal industry, improve the energy structure, and promote the innovation of the non-ferrous metal industry. Yue Yuanbin further said that looking to the future, Luoyang Molybdenum will set medium-term emission reduction targets in 2021 and make a firm commitment to meet climate challenges and achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.
Wang Shugu, an expert at the Tailings Alliance of the China Circular Economy Association, said in an interview with the Securities Daily reporter that non-ferrous metals belong to industries with high fuel consumption, especially copper, aluminum, lead, zinc and other metals. In addition to effective energy saving and emission reduction, the re-refining and reuse of slag also plays a very important role.
Develop carbon peaking schemes for the non-ferrous industry
Strive to reach carbon peaks at least 5 years ahead of the national carbon peak
According to statistics, in 2020, China's non-ferrous metal carbon dioxide emissions will be 660 million tons, accounting for 4.7% of the country's total emissions; electrolytic aluminum production electricity consumption will be 502.2 billion kWh, accounting for 6.7% of the country's total electricity consumption. Ge Honglin, president of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, said a few days ago that the relevant state departments have studied the "Implementation Plan for Carbon Peaking in the Nonferrous Metals Industry" and are soliciting the opinions of industry associations and enterprises. It is initially proposed that by 2025, we will strive to take the lead in achieving carbon peaking; in 2040, we will strive to achieve carbon reduction by 40%, at least 5 years ahead of the national carbon peak.
In order to help the realization of the national "double carbon" goal. Ge Honglin believes that the first is to further strictly control the ceiling of electrolytic aluminum and the smelting capacity of copper, lead and zinc, increase the proportion of clean energy use, expand the utilization of recycled non-ferrous metals, and strive for the industry's carbon peak to be more advanced. The second is to further develop and apply green carbon reduction technologies, and strive to reduce carbon more fast after reaching the peak.
Under the background of policy energy conservation and emission reduction and green transformation needs, on March 19, the Department of Industry of the National Development and Reform Commission presided over a seminar on carbon peaking in the steel, non-ferrous metals and building materials industries. The meeting focused on the scientific formulation of carbon peaking schemes for key industries, promoting industrial low-carbon transformation, and improving energy utilization efficiency.
The National Development and Reform Commission said that the first is to study and formulate carbon peaking schemes for steel, non-ferrous metals, building materials and other industries to help achieve the national carbon peak carbon neutrality goal; the second is to combine the actual conditions of traditional high-energy-consuming industries, pay close attention to the potential of the industry itself, promote industrial transformation and upgrading, and structural optimization; the third is to improve energy utilization efficiency and promote the efficient allocation and efficient utilization of energy resources.
Yue Yuanbin said in an interview with the Securities Daily reporter that in order to achieve the big goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, the first thing to consider is how to reduce emissions, and the core is energy transformation. The non-ferrous metal industry will play an important role in the production, storage and application of clean energy.
Yue Yuanbin further talked, "Taking Luoyang Molybdenum's product portfolio as an example, copper as the most cost-effective conductor material, the carbon neutral era will open up a new growth space for copper, copper in the field of photovoltaic, wind power, energy storage is in the ascendant, coupled with the advent of the global era of automotive electrification, the growth momentum of copper for new energy vehicles is strong; in addition, the rapid development of new energy vehicles and 5G consumer electronics has also driven the long-term demand for cobalt, nickel, lithium and other metal varieties."
(Edited by Qiao Chuanchuan)