On February 4, 2026, the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) held the kick-off meeting for the on-site acceptance of the 2026 “Dual Carbon Best Practice Energy Efficiency Benchmark Demonstration” at the Laiwu Base of Shandong Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd. (Shangang) in Jinan, Shandong Province. This marks a critical milestone in China’s steel industry’s advancement toward the “dual carbon” strategic goals, officially initiating the annual acceptance of energy efficiency benchmark demonstration units. As a key initiative for the industry’s transformation and upgrading, this acceptance not only serves as a comprehensive assessment of enterprises’ green development achievements but also represents concrete action in implementing the national “dual carbon” strategy.
I. Industry Benchmark Leadership: Shangang Named First Unit for Acceptance
At the launch ceremony, Feng Chao, Deputy Secretary-General of CISA, solemnly announced that the Laiwu Base of Shandong Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd. had been selected as the first unit to undergo on-site acceptance in 2026. This decision not only fully recognizes Shangang’s previous efforts but also reflects the industry’s expectations for the green transformation of Shandong’s steel sector.
“Shangang’s Laiwu Base has achieved remarkable results in improving energy efficiency, particularly in energy-saving renovations of core processes such as coking, blast furnaces, and converters, forming replicable and scalable experiences,” Feng Chao noted. He emphasized that the acceptance process would strictly adhere to the “Eight Confirmations” principle, ensuring the authority and credibility of the results through data verification and on-site expert inspections.
Wang Xiangdong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Deputy General Manager of Shangang, stated in his speech that the group views this acceptance as a new starting point for promoting green development. He revealed that Shangang had invested over 5 billion yuan in recent years to revamp its energy management system and tackle technical challenges. By implementing advanced technologies such as blast furnace gas fine desulfurization and sintering flue gas circulation, the comprehensive energy consumption per ton of steel had decreased by 15% compared to three years ago, providing valuable practical experience for the industry.
II. Data Attesting to Achievements: 13.2 Million Tons of Standard Coal Saved in Two Years
Since the launch of the Energy Efficiency Benchmark Demonstration Cultivation Plan in 2024, the steel industry has achieved phased results in green development. According to CISA data, by the end of 2025, a total of 143 steel enterprises (representing 750 million tons of crude steel capacity) had participated in the cultivation plan. Over the two years, energy consumption in the blast furnace and converter processes alone decreased by 2.45% and 12.22%, respectively, cumulatively saving 13.2 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 34 million tons.
“Behind these figures lie the determination of steel enterprises to proactively seek change and the results of collaborative innovation within the industry,” said Zhang Yongjie, Special Commissioner of CISA. He noted that after the first batch of 15 demonstration enterprises passed acceptance in 2024, their average carbon emission intensity per ton of steel decreased by 8%, driving overall energy efficiency improvements across the industry. In 2025, another 32 enterprises completed on-site acceptance, with 18 of them entering the public notification list, further expanding the demonstration effect.
Notably, the number of enterprises applying for acceptance in 2026 surged to nearly 60, covering various process types, including long and short processes. Feng Chao emphasized, “This year, we will strictly enforce acceptance standards to prevent the phenomenon of ‘meeting standards equating to being a benchmark,’ ensuring that only enterprises with exemplary and leading roles in energy conservation and carbon reduction are selected.”
III. Innovation Leading the Future: Launch of the “Energy and Carbon Efficiency Enhancement Project”
At the acceptance kick-off meeting, Feng Chao also unveiled a major initiative for the final year of the “14th Five-Year Plan”—the official launch of the “Energy and Carbon Efficiency Enhancement Project.” This project aims to establish an energy and carbon performance evaluation system covering the entire industry. By improving standards and guidelines, building data platforms, and establishing linkage mechanisms, it seeks to promote the “dual reduction” of fossil energy consumption and carbon emissions in the steel industry.
“We will draw on international advanced experience while considering domestic realities to develop more scientific evaluation indicators,” Feng Chao stated. He added that the new project would focus on cutting-edge technologies such as hydrogen metallurgy, CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage), and smart energy management, aiming to achieve international advanced levels in the energy efficiency benchmarks of key industry processes by 2030.
Ding Yuxin, Chairman of the Hebei Energy Conservation Association, spoke as a representative of the acceptance experts, emphasizing that as a major carbon emitter, the green transformation of the steel industry is crucial for achieving the “dual carbon” goals. He advised enterprises to prioritize industrial chain collaboration while improving energy efficiency, promoting efficient resource utilization through circular economy models.
IV. Enterprise Commitment and Action: Shangang Demonstrates Determination for Green Transformation
As the “main examination site” for this acceptance, Shangang’s Laiwu Base showcased its innovative practices in energy efficiency improvement to the attending experts. Li Hongjian, General Manager of Shandong Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd., introduced the breakthroughs achieved by the company through the implementation of the “Ultimate Energy Efficiency” project:
Coking Process: Adoption of dry quenching waste heat power generation technology, generating 280 million kWh of electricity annually.
Blast Furnace Process: Application of high-pellet ratio smelting technology, reducing fuel consumption by over 10%.
Steel Rolling Process: Widespread use of regenerative heating furnaces, increasing thermal efficiency to over 85%.
“We will take this acceptance as an opportunity to translate expert feedback into motivation for improvement and continue deepening the digitalization of energy management,” Li Hongjian stated. He added that Shangang is accelerating the construction of hydrogen-based shaft furnace projects, planning to complete China’s first full-process low-carbon metallurgy demonstration line by 2027.
V. Industry Outlook: Green Transformation Enters a Critical Phase
As the “dual carbon” goals advance, the steel industry faces unprecedented challenges. Statistics show that carbon emissions from China’s steel industry account for approximately 15% of the national total, making it a primary battlefield for industrial carbon reduction. Energy efficiency improvement, as the most direct and cost-effective means of carbon reduction, has become a consensus within the industry.
“The next five years will be a critical phase for the green transformation of the steel industry,” analyzed Fan Tiejun, President of the Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute. He pointed out that establishing energy efficiency benchmarks can not only drive breakthroughs in individual technologies but also promote systemic changes. “Leading enterprises like Shangang will set an example, encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises to accelerate their transformation.”
At the acceptance kick-off meeting, experts unanimously agreed that achieving deep decarbonization in the steel industry requires a dual focus on technological and model innovation. This includes accelerating the industrial application of disruptive technologies such as hydrogen metallurgy and electric furnace short processes, as well as exploring market-based mechanisms like carbon finance and carbon trading to foster a collaborative carbon reduction ecosystem.
With the official launch of on-site acceptance, the steel industry’s “dual carbon” campaign has entered a new stage. As Feng Chao stated, “This is not merely about selecting the best but about establishing benchmarks to create a pressure mechanism, driving the entire industry toward higher energy efficiency levels.”
Standing at the intersection of the “14th Five-Year Plan” and the “15th Five-Year Plan,” there is reason to believe that, starting with this acceptance, China’s steel industry will take firmer steps on the path of green and low-carbon development. Enterprises bold in innovation and proactive in practice will undoubtedly gain a competitive edge in the future, injecting stronger green momentum into “Made in China.”
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