Hubei breaks the mold for the green transformation of the phosphorus industry

　　As the largest province for phosphorus chemical industry in China, Hubei Province has abundant phosphorus ore resources, with the reserves of phosphorus ore, annual mining volume, scale of phosphorus chemical industry, and production capacity of phosphate fertilizer all ranking first in the country, making significant contributions to food security and economic and social development in China. Hubei Province produces about 30 million tons of new phosphogypsum each year, with an existing stockpile of approximately 310 million tons. In 2021, the comprehensive utilization rate of phosphogypsum in the province was 39.3%, and from January to June 2022, the comprehensive utilization rate reached 60.2%. The total phosphorus concentration at the exit section of the Yangtze River in Hubei remains within the national assessment standards.

　　After the central ecological and environmental protection inspection and "look back" pointed out the pollution control issues of phosphorus chemical industry and phosphogypsum in Hubei Province, the Hubei Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government attached great importance, maintaining a strong momentum, insisting on balancing protection and development, combining emergency response with long-term planning, implementing precise policies, and solidly promoting the high-quality development of the phosphorus chemical industry, effectively addressing the "must-answer question" of phosphogypsum pollution prevention and comprehensive utilization.

　　Top-level design, protecting the clear water flowing east.

　　Hubei's "three phosphorus" enterprises are mainly distributed in cities such as Yichang, Huanggang, Jingmen, Xiangyang, Jingzhou, and Xiaogan. To effectively address the issues reported by the central ecological and environmental protection inspection, protect and improve the ecological environment, strengthen phosphogypsum pollution prevention and control, promote comprehensive utilization of phosphogypsum, and facilitate the high-quality development of the phosphorus chemical industry, in December 2021, the General Office of the Provincial Party Committee and the General Office of the Provincial Government formulated the "Opinions on Strengthening Comprehensive Management of Phosphogypsum to Promote High-Quality Development of the Phosphorus Chemical Industry." In May 2022, the 31st meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th Provincial People's Congress voted to pass the "Hubei Province Phosphogypsum Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations," jointly working from the front, middle, and end of the entire phosphorus chemical industry chain, implementing systematic governance, clustered layout, green transformation, and high-end development, using economic leverage and mechanisms to drive change, focusing on innovation leadership and key breakthroughs, forging a new path for comprehensive governance, systematic governance, and collaborative governance of phosphogypsum that aligns with Hubei's realities, achieving high-quality development of the entire phosphorus chemical industry chain.

　　Harmless treatment to eliminate safety and environmental risks of phosphogypsum stockpiling.

　　To fully implement harmless treatment of phosphogypsum and fundamentally eliminate safety and environmental risks of phosphogypsum stockpiling, with the consent of the provincial government, the Hubei Provincial Economic and Information Technology Department, in conjunction with the Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment and other provincial departments, commissioned China Five Ring Engineering Co., Ltd. to research and formulate and implement the "Technical Regulations for Harmless Treatment of Phosphogypsum in Hubei Province (Trial)" on June 9, 2022. According to the regulations, harmlessly treated phosphogypsum can be used in municipal construction, building projects, highway traffic, and cement production, and for harmless phosphogypsum that is temporarily not utilized, safe storage can be implemented.

　　Hubei Province has proposed that by the end of 2025, all newly generated phosphogypsum will be subjected to harmless treatment. Currently, Xiangyun Company has established a harmless treatment facility for 2.3 million tons of phosphogypsum, and additionally, Bangpu Yihua is working on 4 million tons, while companies such as Chuxing, Saning, Xingfa, Dayukou, Huangmailing, Zedong, and Stanley are in the process of verifying and planning the implementation of 1 million tons of harmless treatment projects for phosphogypsum.

　　Turning waste into treasure, making every effort to tackle the technical challenges of comprehensive utilization of phosphogypsum resources.

　　Yichang is the largest phosphorus ore base in the Yangtze River Basin, with phosphorus ore reserves accounting for 15% of the country and over 50% of the province. Relying on abundant phosphorus ore resources, Yichang has long been engaged in the chemical industry, but at the same time, it faces environmental issues caused by phosphogypsum pollution to water quality and soil.

　　The Three Gorges Laboratory in Yichang seeks to solve the technological path for comprehensive utilization of phosphogypsum through independent innovation, "squeezing dry" phosphorus ore resources, and promoting the high-quality development of the phosphorus chemical industry. Recently, the Three Gorges Laboratory further optimized the process and energy-saving technologies of the demonstration production facility for producing sulfuric acid and cement from phosphogypsum, researched and formulated policies for the promotion and application of phosphogypsum products in fields such as road traffic, and organized implementation, with multiple key scientific research projects related to phosphogypsum underway.

　　Taking multiple measures to solidly promote the comprehensive utilization of phosphogypsum.

　　In accordance with the principle of "whoever produces waste should manage it, whoever utilizes it should benefit," and the goal of "controlling increments, digesting stock, and gradually balancing," the Hubei Provincial Economic and Information Technology Department issued annual comprehensive utilization plans for phosphogypsum to six cities: Yichang, Xiangyang, Jingzhou, Jingmen, Xiaogan, and Huanggang, clearly stating that the comprehensive utilization rate of phosphogypsum should reach 50% in 2022. A long-term mechanism for supervision and assessment has been established and improved, with financial and tax support provided. The provincial finance allocates 100 million yuan annually for special funds, and local finances in Yichang, Xiangyang, Jingmen, Huanggang, Jingzhou, and Xiaogan arrange special funds at a ratio of no less than 1:1 each year.

　　With the joint efforts of various regions and enterprises, since 2020, there have been a total of 56 projects for comprehensive utilization of phosphogypsum under construction and completed, capable of utilizing about 25 million tons of phosphogypsum per year. From January to June 2022, the province produced 15.5885 million tons of phosphogypsum, with a comprehensive utilization of 9.3759 million tons, achieving a comprehensive utilization rate of 60.15%, exceeding the annual target of 50%.

　　By accelerating the green transformation, stimulating development momentum, and guiding and supporting phosphorus chemical enterprises through technological innovation, equipment improvement, and system optimization to achieve clean production, Hubei aims to promote the construction of a green manufacturing system for phosphorus chemical industry. Experiencing the sweet taste of "win-win" in ecology and economy is just the beginning; Hubei will insist on promoting development and regulatory norms simultaneously, implementing systematic governance, clustered layout, green transformation, and high-end development, achieving high-quality development of the entire phosphorus chemical industry chain, and making new contributions to the green development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.