The task of green transformation is still difficult. The steel industry needs to recognize three problems
Zhang Dawei said that while making achievements, we should also be soberly aware of the three problems facing us.
First, the results of control are not yet stable, and the situation of air pollution is still serious. Although the national PM2.5 concentration has dropped to 29 micrograms per cubic meter in 2022, it is still two to four times the current level in European and American countries, and six times the latest WHO guideline value. “In our country, one-third of the cities still have not reached the standard, mainly concentrated in the densely populated central and eastern areas, and most cities with concentrated iron and steel production capacity have not yet reached the standard.” “Air quality still falls far short of the goal of building a beautiful China and the modernization requirement of harmonious coexistence between man and nature,” Zhang said. The air quality can easily rebound if there is a slight mistake.”
Second, structural problems are prominent, and the green transformation of iron and steel remains a long and arduous task. Zhang Dawei pointed out that the total emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter from the steel industry still rank first among the industrial sectors, and carbon dioxide emissions (15 percent) also rank first among non-power companies. If transport is added, emissions are even higher. “The root cause is that the structural problems of the industry itself have not been fundamentally improved.” He listed that, if the process structure is dominated by long process, the output of electric furnace steel accounts for only about 10% of the total output of crude steel, which is a big gap with the global average of 28%, 68% in the United States, 40% in the European Union and 24% in Japan. The structure of the charge is mainly sinter with high emission, and the proportion of pellets in the furnace is less than 20%, which is a big gap with European and American countries. The energy structure is dominated by coal. Coal accounts for 92% of the energy purchased by the iron and steel industry. Industrial coal consumption accounts for 20% of the total coal consumption of the country (including coking), ranking first in the non-electricity industry. And so on.
In addition, the industry has insufficient reserves of key technologies for reducing pollution and carbon. “It is urgent to break down technical and policy barriers between the steel and chemical industries, stimulate the impetus of technological innovation in the industry, and accelerate the basic research and engineering application of disruptive and innovative low-carbon metallurgical technologies.” Zhang Dawei pointed out that in the current “double carbon” background, the steel industry green low-carbon transformation task is arduous.
Third, progress in ultra-low emissions is in line with expectations, but some problems should not be ignored. First, progress in some regions lags behind. Companies listed mainly concentrated in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas and the Fen-Wei Plain, while the Yangtze River Delta region made relatively slow progress. At present, only 5 enterprises in non-key areas have completed the whole process transformation and publicized it. Most enterprises in some provinces are in the preliminary stage of transformation. Second, the quality of some enterprises is not high. Some enterprises have some problems, such as unreasonable process selection, incomplete transformation, emphasizing end-management over source prevention and control. Third, the quality of assessment and monitoring work needs to be improved. “Some enterprises are not in place to reform, in order to pass the publicity, on the evaluation and monitoring of the ‘crooked mind’, the work is not strict and not solid, and even falsification.” Zhang Dawei pointed out that in order to improve the quality of assessment and monitoring work, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Steel Association held several discussions in 2022, pushing the association to standardize the report template and strictly enforce publicity, but the problem still exists to varying degrees.” “He pointed out. Fourth, individual enterprises relax management after publicity, and even illegal behavior.
High level protection of ecological environment, steel industry and enterprises to do four “more attention”
Zhang Dawei said that the overall consideration of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment this year is to adhere to the “three pollution control measures” and “five precision measures”, resolutely oppose the “one-size-fits-all”, oppose the imposition of multiple layers. While carrying out air control, the ministry will coordinate the smooth operation of the industry and resource guarantee, and promote the high-quality development of the steel industry with a high level of protection.
“It is suggested that the steel industry and enterprises should deal with the ‘three relationships’, that is, deal with the relationship between palliative and root causes, long-term and short-term, development and emission reduction, and do the four’ more attention ‘.” Zhang Dawei suggested.
First, we will pay more attention to structural and source emission reduction measures. “Under the premise of the current ‘two-carbon’ goal, we should pay more attention to structural, source and other measures. The future carbon market and carbon tariff will also have a far-reaching impact on the development of the industry, and we should take a long-term view.” Zhang suggested that the steel industry should focus on increasing the proportion of short-process steel production in electric furnaces; Increase the proportion of pellets used in blast furnace and reduce the use of sinter; We will improve energy efficiency, increase the proportion of green electricity used, and replace clean energy in coal-fired industrial furnaces. Central and state-owned enterprises should play a leading role and take the lead in demonstration and application of collaborative technological innovation in reducing pollution and carbon.
Second, we will pay more attention to the quality of ultra-low emission transformation. This major project will not only force enterprises to merge and reorganize, upgrade equipment, and improve the overall green and low-carbon development of the steel industry, but also leverage effective social investment and help stabilize economic growth. “We have stressed many times on various occasions that the ultra-low emission transformation should strive for the ‘four true’, to achieve the ‘four must and four do not’, and must stand the test of history.” Zhang Dawei said.
Third, we will pay more attention to achieving ultra-low requirements on a sustained and stable basis. “Enterprises that have completed ultra-low emission transformation and publicity should further strengthen the functions of environmental management agencies, enhance the professional technical level of environmental management personnel, and give full play to the supporting role of the organized, unorganized and clean transportation monitoring system for environmental management established in the ultra-low emission transformation process, so as to achieve stable ultra-low emissions. It’s not easy to do.” Zhang Dawei stressed that the current ultra-low emissions of steel has formed a multi-party supervision mechanism involving the government, enterprises and the public.
He said that in the next step, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will guide local governments to make full use of differentiated policies, increase policy support for stable ultra-low emission enterprises, and ask the Steel Association to revoke the public notice of enterprises that cannot achieve ultra-low emission and have illegal behaviors. On the other hand, we will intensify law enforcement inspections and strict supervision of enterprises that have not completed the transformation of ultra-low emissions.
Fourth, pay more attention to reducing pollution and carbon in transport links. The iron and steel industry is the key industry in the battle against diesel trucks, and the emissions from transportation accounts for about 20% of the total emissions of the whole plant. “Next step, enterprises should pay more attention to the optimization of transportation inside and outside the plant, improve the proportion of clean transportation of materials and products outside the plant, medium and long distance transportation by railway or waterway, medium and short distance transportation by pipe gallery or new energy vehicles; The construction of belt, track and roller table transportation system will be implemented in the factory to minimize the amount of automobile transportation in the factory and cancel the secondary transfer of materials in the factory.” Zhang Dawei said, has been publicized, to the six car transportation mode of enterprises, also suggested that we further optimize the transportation structure, improve the proportion of clean transportation.
Post time: Feb-15-2023