Key facts
- A new plant in China's Shanxi province converts coal waste into building and industrial materials.
- The facility produces 1,000 tonnes of sand and gravel aggregates daily.
- The materials are derived from coal gangue, a solid waste from coal mining and washing.
- China is also using coal waste to extract critical metals like lithium, gallium, and germanium.
- Another technology converts coal power plant emissions into fertilizer.
A significant project in China's Shanxi province, a major coal-producing region, has commenced operations to transform hard coal waste into valuable industrial materials. The facility, located in Gaoping, is capable of producing 1,000 tonnes per day of building and industrial materials, including sand and gravel aggregates used in construction. This initiative is a key step towards China's objective of achieving zero waste within its fossil fuel industry. The materials are generated from coal gangue, the primary solid waste produced during coal mining and washing processes. By effectively processing this tough waste material, China is nearing comprehensive clean utilization of coal byproducts, extending beyond just solids to include contaminated water and exhaust gases. In parallel, other innovations are emerging, such as a Chinese company converting emissions from coal-fired power plants into fertilizer, a technology that could simultaneously reduce carbon capture costs and food production expenses. Furthermore, China is leveraging its expertise in extraction technology and industrial infrastructure to process coal gangue and fly ash for the recovery of critical metals like lithium, gallium, and germanium.