China will continue to adjust and control the country's crude steel output this year as part of its efforts to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, according to the latest action plan for energy conservation and carbon reduction released by the State Council on May 29.
The plan aims to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by about 2.5 percent and 3.9 percent respectively, and to decrease the energy consumption of added value of industrial enterprises above designated size in China by about 3.5 percent. The plan also targets a non-fossil energy consumption proportion of around 18.9 percent in 2024 and 20 percent in 2025.
To achieve these goals, the plan outlines a range of actions to reduce and substitute fossil energy consumption, including strict and reasonable control of coal consumption, optimization of oil and gas consumption structure, and upgrades to non-fossil energy consumption. The plan also aims to save energy and reduce carbon emissions in key industries such as steel, petrochemicals, non-ferrous metals, and building materials, as well as in areas such as architecture, transportation, public institutions, and energy-using products and equipment.
The plan also targets the reduction of about 50 million tonnes of standard coal for energy-saving and carbon-reduction transformation in key areas and industries, and the reduction of about 130 million tonnes of carbon emissions in 2024 and 2025.