TELF AG discusses the role of green ferroalloys in transforming the Chinese economy
Climate goals
The reduction of the climate impact of some specific productions, such as those linked to ferroalloys in different parts of the world, does not represent just an isolated chapter in the programmatic agenda of some important international institution, or a slogan without consistency to be used only in case of need. Nowadays, in the context of a constantly evolving global context, focusing on green ferroalloys can mean a general optimization of resources, significant savings, and a considerable increase in energy efficiency, in the short and medium term. In China, they have already understood this for a while, and it is precisely for this reason that many Chinese alloy smelters are working to obtain state certification for the so-called green ferroalloys: not only to give a boost to their competitiveness, or to strengthen their reputation locally and internationally, but also to benefit from all the advantages associated with having such recognition.
The ferroalloys industry, even in China, is certainly one of the most energy-intensive, and one of the state objectives for sustainable development consists in bringing the number of ferroalloys producing companies able to comply with the threshold of 30%. energy efficiency standards. Chinese companies that have already started on the path of ecology have already experienced great results in terms of reputation, but also in terms of brand image towards stakeholders.
This is a process that is advancing very rapidly in China, and within a few years, will be able to involve a good number of companies belonging to this sector, drastically changing the way they are perceived internally and abroad. It is no coincidence that many Chinese companies have already requested sustainable certification for their ferroalloys production: for them, it could be a real necessity, also because the number of their customers who expect ecological ferroalloys is growing more and more. This is especially true for some specific ferroalloys, such as silico manganese, used in particular by steel producers for some specific processes.
This trend, in a certain sense, is an integral part of a broader project that aims to reduce the environmental impact of various industrial productions, including those linked to the construction of new buildings. An example of this is the XiongAn district in Beijing, whose main construction projects already require certified ecological materials, including steel. From now on, the work of Chinese steel producers will also be carefully evaluated from an environmental point of view, so that its impact on natural ecosystems is as low as possible. In this case, the green certifications will obviously also extend to the raw materials linked to these products.
These certifications appear particularly attractive for Chinese producers of ferrosilicon, which can also be used as a useful promotional tool and a concrete stimulus to improve the level of sustainable production, with clear repercussions on the ability to supply these products.
In Inner Mongolia, China, in a plant specialized in the production of silicon-manganese, an innovative energy generation system will be installed capable of reusing waste gases linked to production as useful resources for the generation of new energy, reducing greenhouse gases and bringing the metal production process to a new level of safety. Over time, this plant will make possible a considerable reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, with an exceptionally positive impact on the environment (but also on the economy). This is only an isolated project, but it undoubtedly represents a clear signal of this sustainable push that is affecting all of China. Even without the presence of green certifications, the country is working to implement sustainable manufacturing processes capable of revolutionizing the raw materials sector.
