Yichang Clears the Path to a Clean Energy Future
2023-01-07 19:01:11
By Tan Maolin, Yichang International Communication Studio
After nearly five years and many divestment actions, Yichang has been able to transform its image from “a group of chemical companies that surround the Yangtze River” to a green city with a clear “eco-development” growth path.
Now in Yichang City, projects headed by green industry companies such as Bangpu Yihua, Shandong Haike, Chuneng New Energy and Yichang Xingfa are in full swing. These green industry projects will provide strong support for Yichang to realize its annual GDP target of 800 billion yuan (US$117 billion) by 2026.
As recent as a few years ago, Yichang City’s riverside was crowded with chemical companies. Since 2018, 134 chemical companies along the Yangtze River have been either closed, relocated or transformed. Following the restoration of the 232-kilometer Yangtze River bank, it can now be seen lined with green trees and blooming flowers, making it a relaxing space for locals and visitors alike.
Hubei Sanning Chemical Co., Ltd. is a leading enterprise in Yichang City. For ecological protection, Sanning shut down and relocated a chemical plant and urea plant in Linjiang, each making an annual profit of more than 100 million yuan at the time.
Yichang Huahao New Material Technology Co., Ltd. used the relocation to transform its business model in order to focus on energy conservation and environmental protection. Today, the company’s leading product - electronic-grade barium chloride - has a world-leading purity level and global market share of more than 60 percent.
After several years of "short-term pain,” Yichang has increased the proportion of fine chemicals in its chemical industry to more than 40 percent. A large number of enterprises are switching to a green development model, contributing to Yichang’s 2023 target of reaching 180 billion yuan in green chemical output value.
As Yichang proactively seeks opportunities in the new energy sector, many high-tech companies have settled down in the city.
In January 2022, the complete industry chain project of Zhongqing Smart Group with a total investment of 15 billion yuan settled in Dangyang, a county-level city of Yichang. The annual output value of this project is expected to exceed 20 billion yuan.
On December 30, 2022, the building structures of four workshops and a research center were completed as part of Phase I of the Chuneng New Energy (Yichang) Lithium Battery Industrial Park’s construction. This project, with a planned total investment of 60 billion yuan, is the largest single investment project in Yichang in recent years.
The power battery base project of Sunwoda Dongfeng Yichang, whose total investment hit 12 billion yuan, is the 20th project with an investment of over 10 billion yuan that Yichang City attracted in 2022. The power battery base has a designed annual production capacity of 30GWh power battery, and an annual output value that is expected to exceed 24 billion yuan.
After the Bangpu Integrated Battery Material Industrial Park started its trial operation, Yichang had successfully achieved a closed-loop new energy battery industry chain, covering positive and negative electrode materials, electrolytes and diaphragms.
In recent years, Yichang has aligned its development with scientific and technological innovation in mind, as well as green and low-carbon growth. The city continuously promotes a green transformation of the chemical industry and the upgrading of advanced manufacturing industries such as biomedicine, equipment manufacturing, new generation information technology and clean energy.
Taking full use of rich phosphate rock reserves, Yichang is actively promoting the "three-level upgrading" of “phosphate rock -> new energy materials -> powertrain and high-end equipment manufacturing,” improving product added value and competitiveness.
"We will unswervingly implement the green transforming and upgrading of modern industries,” said Ding Qingrong, director of the Yichang Economic and Information Bureau. He said that Yichang will focus on five industries (chemical, biomedicine, equipment manufacturing, new generation information technology and clean energy) and strive to hit a 1 trillion yuan industrial output value by 2026, forming one 300 billion yuan-level and four 100 billion yuan-level advanced industrial clusters.
After nearly five years and many divestment actions, Yichang has been able to transform its image from “a group of chemical companies that surround the Yangtze River” to a green city with a clear “eco-development” growth path.
Now in Yichang City, projects headed by green industry companies such as Bangpu Yihua, Shandong Haike, Chuneng New Energy and Yichang Xingfa are in full swing. These green industry projects will provide strong support for Yichang to realize its annual GDP target of 800 billion yuan (US$117 billion) by 2026.
As recent as a few years ago, Yichang City’s riverside was crowded with chemical companies. Since 2018, 134 chemical companies along the Yangtze River have been either closed, relocated or transformed. Following the restoration of the 232-kilometer Yangtze River bank, it can now be seen lined with green trees and blooming flowers, making it a relaxing space for locals and visitors alike.
Hubei Sanning Chemical Co., Ltd. is a leading enterprise in Yichang City. For ecological protection, Sanning shut down and relocated a chemical plant and urea plant in Linjiang, each making an annual profit of more than 100 million yuan at the time.
Yichang Huahao New Material Technology Co., Ltd. used the relocation to transform its business model in order to focus on energy conservation and environmental protection. Today, the company’s leading product - electronic-grade barium chloride - has a world-leading purity level and global market share of more than 60 percent.
After several years of "short-term pain,” Yichang has increased the proportion of fine chemicals in its chemical industry to more than 40 percent. A large number of enterprises are switching to a green development model, contributing to Yichang’s 2023 target of reaching 180 billion yuan in green chemical output value.
As Yichang proactively seeks opportunities in the new energy sector, many high-tech companies have settled down in the city.
In January 2022, the complete industry chain project of Zhongqing Smart Group with a total investment of 15 billion yuan settled in Dangyang, a county-level city of Yichang. The annual output value of this project is expected to exceed 20 billion yuan.
On December 30, 2022, the building structures of four workshops and a research center were completed as part of Phase I of the Chuneng New Energy (Yichang) Lithium Battery Industrial Park’s construction. This project, with a planned total investment of 60 billion yuan, is the largest single investment project in Yichang in recent years.
The power battery base project of Sunwoda Dongfeng Yichang, whose total investment hit 12 billion yuan, is the 20th project with an investment of over 10 billion yuan that Yichang City attracted in 2022. The power battery base has a designed annual production capacity of 30GWh power battery, and an annual output value that is expected to exceed 24 billion yuan.
After the Bangpu Integrated Battery Material Industrial Park started its trial operation, Yichang had successfully achieved a closed-loop new energy battery industry chain, covering positive and negative electrode materials, electrolytes and diaphragms.
In recent years, Yichang has aligned its development with scientific and technological innovation in mind, as well as green and low-carbon growth. The city continuously promotes a green transformation of the chemical industry and the upgrading of advanced manufacturing industries such as biomedicine, equipment manufacturing, new generation information technology and clean energy.
Taking full use of rich phosphate rock reserves, Yichang is actively promoting the "three-level upgrading" of “phosphate rock -> new energy materials -> powertrain and high-end equipment manufacturing,” improving product added value and competitiveness.
"We will unswervingly implement the green transforming and upgrading of modern industries,” said Ding Qingrong, director of the Yichang Economic and Information Bureau. He said that Yichang will focus on five industries (chemical, biomedicine, equipment manufacturing, new generation information technology and clean energy) and strive to hit a 1 trillion yuan industrial output value by 2026, forming one 300 billion yuan-level and four 100 billion yuan-level advanced industrial clusters.
