Chinese aluminum industry was in a rapid development in recent years (see Table 1), aluminum production capacity increased quickly and demand for bauxite etc growed rapidly. Domestic bauxite mining, reserve consumption and imported Al-containing resources continue to grow. Aluminum production and consumption caused a huge gap of supply for bauxite, scrap etc raw materials. Decrease in the grade and short supply of ore resources has become a bottleneck in the development of aluminum industry in China.
Table 1
Variations of aluminum production and consumption in China in the period of 1990–2013 (unti: 104t)
YearProductionConsumptionYearProductionConsumption199085.4383.682002451.11415.20199196.2598.502003596.20517.761992109.60132.802004668.88619.091993125.15135.002005780.60711.861994149.84153.702006926.40838.001995186.97168.5020071228.401197.901996190.07175.0020081317.631241.251997217.86211.5020091288611315.01998243.53242.542010157713158551999280.89292.592011176789176292000298.82353.2720122020842148.152001357.58354.5420132205.852320.00Bauxite resources are relatively poor in China, at the same time, the quality of more than 85% of the reserves are also disappointed. Bauxite reserve per person in China is 1/9 of the global average level and current reserve is accounted to lower than 2% of the global reserve. Dynamic reserve to consumption is less than 12 years and reserve to production is less than 20 years in China. In 2020 China’s domestic bauxite guarantee degree is only about 38% of the demand, and this is a very serious problem. There are some uncertain factors regarding to a large number of imports, which will be limited to the exporter. Imported bauxite is equal to imported a large number of pollutants at the same time, about 50% for hazardous waste (red sludge)[1].
Therefore, under a so large and rapidly increasing aluminum industry, bauxite resource was severely deficient and depends on a large number of imports at the same time, it is necessary to study on the history of aluminum industry in China. Analysis of Chinese aluminum industry based on substance flow analysis is very useful in finding the development and evolution of aluminum industry in China, which can help to attain the savings of Al-containing resources and achieve a sustainable development in the aluminum industry. It has been carried out some related research on the aluminum industry.
Melo used three different kinds of models to predict the amount of aluminum old scrap in the waste management stage in Germany[2]. Martchek used a simplified model to analyze the global aluminum cycle in 2003[3]. Hatayama and his colleagues calculated the output of aluminum old scrap produced from different sectors[4]. Plunkert adopted aluminum flow framework to analyze the aluminum cycle in the United States in 2000[5]. Liu and Müller described the global journey of anthropogenic aluminum by adopting trade-linked materials flow analysis[6]. Dahlström and Ekins analyzed aluminum flow in the United Kingdom in 2001 combining substance flow analysis and value chain analysis together[7]. Liu and Müller reviewed the problem of addressing the sustainability of aluminum industry by life cycle assessment approach[8]. Chen and his colleagues used aluminum flow diagram to analyze aluminum cycle of China in 2005[9]. Yue and his colleagues used alumnum flow diagram to analyze aluminum cycles in 2003–2007 in China[10]. Chen and his colleagues explored the production, consumption, import and export, losses and changes of stocks of aluminum in China for 2001, 2004 and 2007[11]. Yue and Lu analyzed aluminum social stock in China[12].
This paper is based on the theory of metal’s industrial metabolism, aluminum flow diagram was adopted to analyze, aluminum flow for the aluminum product life cycle of 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2008–2011 in China. Aluminum flow indices of China’s aluminum industry during these periods were calculated, and proposals for future development of China’s aluminum industry were put forward.
Some actions have already been taken to cut emissions in China’s two largest emitting sectors – energy and steel – in response to its carbon neutrality pledge set out last year. In the energy sector, PetroChina, the country’s largest oil and gas supplier, has recently announced its plan to become net-zero emissions by 2050. State Power Investment Corp (SPIC), one of the top five power producers in China, has recently committed to peak its carbon emissions by 2024 – 7 years ahead of the national carbon peak pledge. Similarly, in the steel sector, Baowu Steel Group, the world’s second largest steel maker, has targeted to become carbon neutrality by 2050, through increased use of renewable energy (e.g., wind, solar, and clean hydrogen) in production, as well as efficiency improvement.
Similar actions have, however, not yet been observed in the aluminium sector, despite efforts made by some aluminium producers (e.g., Chalco) to relocate their production capacity to Southwest provinces, to take advantage of the cheap hydro electricity there. Even with the closure of 2.5 GW of subcritical captive coal capacity used in Shandong’s aluminium sector, announced recently by the provincial government, China still has over 44 GW of subcritical captive used for aluminium production that needs to be phased out, in order to prepare the sector for a low-carbon future.