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Recently, 10 ministries and commissions including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Mine Safety Administration jointly issued the Implementation Plan for the High-Quality Development of the Aluminum Industry (2025-2027) (hereinafter referred to as the "Implementation Plan"). To ensure the effective implementation of the Implementation Plan, the relevant contents are interpreted as follows.

I. What is the background for issuing the Implementation Plan?

Aluminum is an important basic raw material and a strategic resource related to national economy and people's livelihood as well as the development of the national economy, and the aluminum industry is the largest non-ferrous metal industry. In recent years, China's aluminum industry has developed rapidly and has become the world's largest producer and consumer of aluminum products. First, the industrial scale has grown. In 2024, China's output of alumina, primary aluminum, aluminum processed products and recycled aluminum remained the world's first, reaching about 85 million metric tons, 44 million metric tons, 49.5 million metric tons and 10.5 million metric tons respectively, strongly supporting the development of strategic emerging industries such as aerospace, new energy and the new generation of information technology. Second, the technical level has been raised. China has pioneered alumina production technologies such as the lime Bayer process and beneficiation Bayer process, built the world's largest single alumina production line, and led the world in the comprehensive utilization of associated resources such as gallium, lithium and iron. The comprehensive AC power consumption of primary aluminum has decreased by about 2% compared with 2020, and the capacity of electrolytic cells of 500kA and above accounts for about 45%. Third, the industrial structure has been optimized. The capacity replacement policy for primary aluminum has been effectively implemented, with capacity accelerating to transfer to areas rich in clean energy, and the proportion of clean energy used in primary aluminum production has risen to 25%. The agglomeration effect of aluminum processing development has been enhanced, and a number of leading enterprises and "little giant" enterprises specializing in sophisticated technologies, advanced production and unique products have emerged. However, at the same time, problems such as insufficient domestic aluminum resource supply and increasing pressure for energy conservation and carbon reduction have become increasingly prominent. The issuance of the Implementation Plan aims to strengthen the overall planning of the entire industrial chain, give full play to China's advantages in the aluminum industry such as a solid foundation and a large market scale, guide the industry to accelerate transformation and upgrading, and promote the industry to achieve effective improvement in quality and reasonable growth in quantity.

II. What is the overall consideration of the Implementation Plan?

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Implementation Plan fully implements the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and implements the arrangements of the National Conference on Promoting New-type Industrialization. It aims to boost the exploration and production of domestic resources, accelerate the upgrading of equipment, promote the coordinated development of upstream and downstream industries, continuously expand the application of aluminum products, and build a high-end, intelligent and green development system for the aluminum industry. First, clarify the development positioning. Focusing on implementing the requirements of the national 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline of the 2035 Long-Range Objectives, as well as the development plan for the raw material industry, the carbon peaking implementation plan and the digital transformation implementation guide, it puts forward the three-year objectives and tasks for promoting the high-quality development of the aluminum industry. Second, strengthen systematic planning. Based on the entire industrial chain, it coordinates domestic and international resources and markets, and systematically plans development tasks to enhance the competitiveness of the entire chain including aluminum resource development, smelting and processing, material preparation, and secondary resource recycling and utilization. Third, highlight innovation-driven development. It promotes the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, strengthens the dominant position of enterprises in innovation, breaks through a number of key generic technologies, promotes the transformation of high-level scientific and technological achievements, improves the supply capacity of high-end products, accelerates green and intelligent transformation and upgrading, improves the construction of standard systems, and strives to enhance industrial innovation capacity.

III. What are the main objectives of the Implementation Plan?

The Implementation Plan proposes that by 2027, the resilience and security level of the aluminum industry chain and supply chain will be significantly improved. In terms of raw material guarantee, it is striving to achieve a 3% to 5% growth in domestic bauxite resource reserves and a recycled aluminum output of more than 15 million metric tons; in terms of industrial layout, the construction level of aluminum processing industrial clusters will be further improved, the proportion of primary aluminum production capacity meeting the energy efficiency benchmark level will rise to more than 30%, the proportion of clean energy use will reach more than 30%, and the comprehensive resource utilization rate of newly generated red mud will exceed 15%; in terms of technological innovation, a number of key technologies such as low-carbon smelting and precision processing and high-end new materials will be broken through, and new growth points for aluminum consumption will be cultivated. Looking forward to 2035, China will lead the development of the global aluminum industry, and a comprehensive pattern of high-quality development will be formed.

IV. How does the Implementation Plan strengthen the foundation of resource guarantee?

China has abundant bauxite resource reserves, but the resource endowment is poor, making it difficult to effectively meet the growing market demand. It is urgent to strengthen resource exploration and development, efficient and high-value utilization, accelerate the construction of key projects, drive effective investment, and continuously improve the raw material guarantee capacity. The Implementation Plan proposes three measures. First, accelerate the exploration and production of domestic bauxite resources. Promote a new round of the Strategic Action for Prospecting Breakthroughs, add a number of exploitable bauxite resources, and encourage research and development on the utilization technology of low-grade bauxite and high-sulfur bauxite. Second, encourage the comprehensive utilization of mineral resources. Strengthen the evaluation and recycling of associated resources, improve the resource recovery rate, beneficiation recovery rate and comprehensive utilization rate, and promote the construction of comprehensive utilization bases for bulk solid waste and industrial resources. Third, promote the recycling and utilization of recycled aluminum resources. Support the establishment of recycled aluminum recycling bases and industrial clusters, improve the circular utilization efficiency of recycled aluminum raw materials, explore and build a new "Internet + resource recycling" model, and promote the integrated development and high-value utilization of recycled aluminum with primary aluminum and aluminum processing.

V. How does the Implementation Plan promote industrial structural adjustment?

In recent years, the production capacity of alumina and aluminum processed products in China has expanded rapidly, leading to intensified homogeneous competition among enterprises and great pressure on resource and environmental carrying capacity in some regions. It is urgent to optimize the industrial structure and regional layout, and promote the transformation of the industrial development model from scale expansion to quality and efficiency improvement. The Implementation Plan proposes three measures. First, prudently advance the construction of alumina projects. The energy efficiency of newly built, renovated and expanded alumina projects must meet the advanced value of mandatory energy consumption quota standards and the environmental performance Class A level. No new or expanded alumina production lines using diaspore as raw material will be built. In principle, newly built or expanded alumina projects (including projects producing aluminum hydroxide from bauxite) must have equity bauxite output matching the production capacity and a certain capacity for comprehensive utilization of red mud. Second, optimize the layout of primary aluminum production capacity. Newly replaced primary aluminum projects must meet the requirements such as AC power consumption of molten aluminum not higher than 13,000 kilowatt-hours per ton and environmental performance Class A. The adoption of electrolytic cells of 500kA and above is encouraged, and the transfer of primary aluminum production capacity to areas rich in clean energy with environmental and energy capacity is encouraged. Research and development and demonstration application of disruptive technologies such as low-carbon smelting will be strengthened. Third, promote the agglomerated development of the aluminum processing industry. Encourage capacity merger and reorganization, guide the exit of low-competitiveness capacity, and avoid low-level redundant construction. Focusing on segmented material fields such as new energy and electronics, focus on cultivating high-quality enterprises such as "little giant" enterprises, "single champion" enterprises and high-tech enterprises, and support the cultivation of a number of advanced manufacturing clusters and characteristic industrial clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises focusing on deep and sophisticated aluminum processing.

VI. How does the Implementation Plan improve the level of innovation-driven development?

The innovation and development mechanism of China's aluminum industry is not yet perfect, key technologies such as low-carbon smelting and comprehensive utilization of red mud are in urgent need of breakthroughs, and the supply capacity of high-end application materials such as high-strength and high-toughness aluminum alloys is insufficient. It is urgent to improve the innovation platform of the aluminum industry, strengthen key technological innovation, and promote the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements. The Implementation Plan proposes two measures. First, strengthen the scientific and technological innovation capacity of the industry. Support leading enterprises in the aluminum industry to build innovation consortia and industrial innovation alliances with research institutes, universities and key upstream and downstream enterprises, study and establish manufacturing innovation centers, enterprise technology centers and key laboratories in the aluminum field, support the construction of relevant innovation platforms such as production application, testing and evaluation, and pilot testing in the aluminum industry, and cultivate a number of industrial workers, technical backbones and innovation teams. Second, improve the high-end supply level of products. Carry out research and development and industrial application of preparation technologies for aluminum alloy materials such as high-strength, high-toughness and corrosion-resistant ones, develop key equipment such as high-precision rolling equipment and control systems, support aluminum processing enterprises to increase product variety, improve product quality, build independent brands, provide customized, functional and specialized products and services, and expand consumption potential.

VII. How does the Implementation Plan consolidate the industrial technical foundation?

The standard system of China's aluminum industry is not perfect, and the stability and reliability of the quality of some high-end products need to be improved. It is urgent to give play to the leading role of standards, improve the quality management capacity of enterprises, and consolidate the technical foundation for the development of the aluminum industry. The Implementation Plan proposes two measures. First, improve the construction of standard systems. Focus on formulating national standards, industry standards and group standards in the fields of pollution and carbon reduction, energy conservation and environmental protection, work safety, digital transformation, and advanced aluminum alloys. Encourage industry associations, enterprises and standardization institutions to participate in international standardization activities, and promote the transformation of China's advantageous and characteristic aluminum standards into international standards. Second, strengthen the quality and technical foundation. Further implement the Manufacturing Excellence Quality Project, organize the evaluation of the quality management capacity of manufacturing enterprises including those in the aluminum industry, guide key enterprises such as aluminum processing enterprises to improve their quality management capacity, strengthen the construction of metrology and testing centers for the aluminum industry, encourage enterprises to improve the measurement management system, and promote the development of special testing equipment and the formulation of metrological technical specifications and standards.

VIII. How does the Implementation Plan accelerate green development?

China's aluminum industry still faces great pressure in green development, with technical bottlenecks in energy conservation, emission reduction and consumption reduction, the power consumption structure needing to be optimized, and the proportion of clean energy application to be further improved. It is urgent to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of process technologies and equipment and improve the level of green development. The Implementation Plan proposes two measures. First, promote energy-saving and carbon-reduction transformation. Establish a number of benchmark enterprises reaching the environmental performance Class A level, promote the renewal and technological transformation of equipment such as large-scale aluminum electrolytic cells and new type of current-stabilized and heat-preserved aluminum electrolytic cells, continuously carry out industrial energy conservation supervision, build a number of green mines, green factories and green industrial parks, accelerate the construction of a green and low-carbon public service platform for the non-ferrous metal industry, and support the green aluminum product certification. Second, implement clean energy substitution. Encourage enterprises to participate in the development and construction of renewable energy such as photovoltaic and wind power, as well as hydrogen energy and energy storage systems, and promote the clean energy substitution in the links of aluminum hydroxide calcination and anode baking for aluminum production. Support enterprises to improve the proportion of clean energy use through green power trading, purchase of green power certificates, investment in clean energy power generation projects, etc., promote the increase of the proportion of clean transportation of bulk goods in the aluminum industry, and strengthen the emission control of transportation vehicles.

IX. How does the Implementation Plan accelerate digital transformation?

It is difficult to build production process mechanism models for some key links of China's aluminum industry chain, and the integrated application of technologies such as artificial intelligence is insufficient. It is urgent to accelerate the application of digital technologies and improve the digital development level of the industry. The Implementation Plan proposes to build a digital transformation scenario map for the aluminum industry chain, promote the in-depth application of digital technologies in the entire industrial chain including aluminum mines, smelting and processing, create a number of typical scenarios, benchmark factories and benchmark enterprises for the digital transformation of the aluminum industry chain, accelerate the application of intelligent equipment and systems such as on-line monitoring equipment, advanced control systems and work safety risk monitoring and early warning systems, and improve the safety management and control level of the aluminum industry. Build artificial intelligence (AI) models for the aluminum industry such as key equipment fault resolution, production process control, intelligent safety and environmental protection management, and quality monitoring, promote the in-depth integration and application of AI technology with resource exploration, mining, dressing, smelting and material preparation, and improve the level of network and data security protection.

X. How does the Implementation Plan deepen international cooperation and opening up?

In recent years, China has actively participated in and deeply integrated into the global aluminum industry chain and supply chain, and continuously deepened international cooperation. It is still necessary to further improve the overseas investment cooperation and risk response capabilities of domestic enterprises, promote win-win cooperation, and contribute Chinese solutions to the high-quality development of the global aluminum industry. The Implementation Plan proposes two measures. First, strengthen international investment cooperation. Give play to China's advantages in aluminum technology, equipment, standards and services, improve the capacity and level of transnational operation, encourage enterprises to carry out public welfare activities and support community development in investment countries to build good community relations and actively fulfill social responsibilities. Encourage foreign high-end processing enterprises to invest and build factories in China, and domestic enterprises to participate in international scientific and technological cooperation in fields such as low-carbon transformation and new materials, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in research and development, standards and talent training. Second, improve the level of foreign trade cooperation. Actively respond to trade frictions and guide the high-level export of high-end aluminum-based new materials and products. Implement the import policy for recycled aluminum raw materials and encourage the import of high-quality recycled aluminum raw materials that meet national requirements. Give full play to the functions of aluminum futures and alumina futures to provide protection for enterprise risk management.

XI. How to promote the implementation of the Implementation Plan?

The Implementation Plan proposes three measures. First, strengthen organizational leadership. Strengthen the coordination of fiscal, financial, investment, import and export policies with industrial policies, guide local governments to include the main objectives and key tasks of the Implementation Plan in the relevant industrial plans and major project lists of the region, coordinate regional resource development, factor guarantee and policy support, and solidly promote the implementation and effectiveness of various policies and measures. Second, improve the incentive and restraint mechanism. Coordinate existing funding channels to enhance the key technological research capacity of the aluminum industry chain, give play to the role of the national industrial and financial cooperation platform, accurately and effectively support the intelligent and green transformation of the aluminum industry as well as the technological research and project construction of new material preparation and red mud comprehensive utilization, implement tax policies such as resource comprehensive utilization, and encourage resource development, technological innovation and achievement transformation. Third, create a sound development environment. Give play to the role of industry organizations, actively serve enterprise development, release industry prosperity indexes and operation reports, and guide enterprises to make rational investment and scientific decisions. Encourage local governments to introduce long-term and market-oriented policies to promote the consumption and expand the application of aluminum products, improve the standardized management of the aluminum industry, and cultivate benchmark enterprises.