Henan unveils action plan for red mud utilization

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 utilization 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% 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% was comprehensively utilized, Mysteel Global noted.

The plan sets two key targets: by 2027, Henan's comprehensive utilization rate of newly generated red mud should reach 15%, and by 2030, it should increase to 25%. To meet the goals, the action plan outlines measures including source reduction, expanded utilization, 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% 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 utilizing 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 utilization of red mud.

In addition, alumina refiners and red mud utilization 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.

Written by Iris Pang, pangjunyu@mysteel.com