Henan province, a major aluminium and alumina producing hub in Central China, is stepping up efforts in systematically tackling the difficulties in the comprehensive utilisation of solid waste from alumina production in order to foster sustainable development for its alumina industry, Mysteel has learned.
On November 27, six provincial departments of Henan, including the Department of Industry and Information Technology, jointly rolled out an action plan for the comprehensive utilisation of red mud, a highly alkaline, iron oxide-rich solid waste generated during the refining of bauxite ore into alumina.
As China's fourth-largest alumina production region, Henan is home to seven alumina producers, with their combined alumina capacity accounting for 12.9 per cent of the national total. However, its overall use of residue slurry remains relatively low. In 2024, the province produced about 13.32 million tonnes of red mud, of which only 12.1 per cent was comprehensively utilised, Mysteel Global noted.
The plan sets two key targets: by 2027, Henan's comprehensive utilisation rate of newly generated red mud should reach 15 per cent, and by 2030, it should increase to 25 per cent. To meet the goals, the action plan outlines measures including source reduction, expanded utilisation, technological innovation, and cross-industry collaboration.
The plan calls for reducing red mud output at its source. Local alumina refiners are required to complete a new round of technological upgrades for smart production management by 2027 and to reduce their red mud output rate by at least 5 per cent from 2024 levels by 2030.
The plan also seeks to expand the application of red mud across more products and usage scenarios. By 2030, the province aims to achieve significant breakthroughs in utilising red mud for products such as concrete and in the extraction of rare metals including gallium and lithium.
Moreover, alumina producers, universities, and research institutes are encouraged to enhance research efforts and establish innovation platforms, the plan suggests. By 2027, Henan proposes to complete ten provincial-level research projects and foster several provincial-level innovation platforms in the comprehensive utilisation of red mud.
In addition, alumina refiners and red mud utilisation enterprises should strengthen cooperation with other industries, such as steel, chemicals, building materials, and transportation, to develop an industrial collaboration mechanism that supports red mud reuse, according to the plan.
To know more about red mud utilisation and industry initiatives, download: A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue - Red Mud
