Huaibei High-tech Zone Signs Deal for Advanced Aluminum Composite Materials Project

As resource security and decarbonization become increasingly important, major economies are strengthening efforts to retain aluminum scrap. From the EU's review of export controls and the U.S. strategic asset proposal to Japan's circular economy initiatives and policies in the UAE and South Africa, these developments could reshape global scrap flows and affect secondary aluminum markets.

The total investment of the Chalco Aluminum Foil New Energy High-Precision Plate, Sheet, Strip and Foil Project is RMB 1.82 billion, and physical progress has currently reached 40%. The roofing of the factory building will be completed by June 30 this year, and equipment commissioning and acceptance will be finished by month-end December, followed by trial production. It is understood that the project is expected to be officially completed and put into operation on May 31, 2027. After commissioning, it will achieve an annual output of 170,000 mt of high-precision aluminum plate/sheet, strip and foil, primarily used for the positive electrode current collectors of high-end power batteries, with an output value projected to reach 4 billion yuan.

The Capacity Replacement Scheme for the Aluminum Electrolysis Construction Project of Yunnan Hongtai New-type Materials Co., Ltd. (Announcement No. 18 of 2019 by the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Yunnan Province) was publicly announced on December 26, 2019. The construction project planned to build six potlines, A, B, C, D, E, and F, to be constructed in phases and commissioned in sections. On January 25, 2021, two cells in Potline C (cell numbers 3344# and 3444#) passed the verification and acceptance conducted by experts organized by the provincial, prefectural, and county industry and information technology authorities, and were found to comply with the requirements of the Capacity Replacement Scheme for the Aluminum Electrolysis Construction Project of Yunnan Hongtai New-type Materials Co., Ltd. However, because they were located at the end of the second section and too close to the short-circuit busbar of the three-way corridor, the electromagnetic field stability was extremely poor. After the capacity replacement and verification in January 2021, they were not operated. The two cells in Potline D and the two cells in Potline C are all NEUI440kA electrolysis cells, each with a capacity of 2,405 mt, consistent with the construction content specified in the scheme. The Wenshan Prefecture Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, jointly with Yanshan County, conducted a verification and acceptance of the implementation of the capacity replacement scheme for the Aluminum Electrolysis Construction Project of Yunnan Hongtai New-type Materials Co., Ltd. (involving two units in the second section of Potline D). We hereby publicize the changes in the implementation of the capacity replacement scheme. The publicity period is from June 3 to June 7, 2026. During the publicity period, if there are any objections, please report them to the Wenshan Prefecture Bureau of Industry and Information Technology. Public supervision is welcomed.