*4.2. Research and Promotion of Energy-Saving and Emission-Reduction Technologies*

The promotion and application of energy-saving and secondary energy-recovery technologies in steel production has always been the focus of the energy-saving work of China's steel industry. After years of development, some major energy-saving technologies have been widely implemented in China. These technologies include sintering waste heat recovery, TRT power generation capacity, and converter gas recovery.

In the future, the progress of research and development of energy-saving technologies will further decrease the EI of steel production in China. Several domestic steel industry researchers have begun to actively pay attention to research on topics such as high-temperature and pressure dry quenching, heat recovery from coke oven riser waste, coal humidification, heat recycling from sintering waste gas waste, heat recovery from slag washing water waste, heat recovery from converter flue gas waste, comprehensive utilization of pure dry dust removal, and high-parameter gas-generating units [44] (Table 7).


**Table 7.** Major technological progress and their energy-saving effect in the future.

#### *4.3. Production Structure Transformation* increase over the next few years.

2017.

A large amount of scrap steel resources accumulated by China is expected to reach their recycling cycle in recent years. Under these conditions, utilization of scrap steel could be expected to increase over the next few years. According to estimations of recyclable period of steel products in China, during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, in addition to scrap vehicles, many bridges, houses and military equipment have reached the scrap period. This phenomenon will further increase China's scrap stock. The amount of

recycling cycle in recent years. Under these conditions, utilization of scrap steel could be expected to

According to estimations of recyclable period of steel products in China, during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, in addition to scrap vehicles, many bridges, houses and military equipment have reached the scrap period. This phenomenon will further increase China's scrap stock. The amount of recyclable scrap steel is expected to reach approximately 200 Mt in 2020, 272.2 Mt in 2025, and 346 Mt in 2030 [37] (Figure 14). Therefore, increasing the scrap ratio is an inevitable trend in the development of China's iron and steel industry. recyclable scrap steel is expected to reach approximately 200 Mt in 2020, 272.2 Mt in 2025, and 346 Mt in 2030 [37] (Figure 14). Therefore, increasing the scrap ratio is an inevitable trend in the development of China's iron and steel industry. The 13th Five-Year Plan is anticipated to be a major turning point for the scrap industry. Efforts to rationally utilize scrap steel resources, increase the proportion of EAF steel, and realize structural and energy savings will have tremendous potential for growth and development.

the demand for iron ore will continue to decline [44]( Figure 15).

**Figure 14.** Amount of recyclable scrap resources [37], with permission from World Steel Association **Figure 14.** Amount of recyclable scrap resources [37], with permission from World Steel Association 2017.

pig iron production over the long run will be higher than that of crude steel. At present, over 65% of China's total iron production is produced by imported iron ore [33]. From a long-term perspective,

China's crude steel production has been in the downward zone of the peak arc, and steel

The 13th Five-Year Plan is anticipated to be a major turning point for the scrap industry. Efforts to rationally utilize scrap steel resources, increase the proportion of EAF steel, and realize structural and energy savings will have tremendous potential for growth and development.

China's crude steel production has been in the downward zone of the peak arc, and steel production is not expected to increase in the medium and long term. Pig iron production shows the same characteristics, and, given the gradual increase in scrap resources, the average decline rate of pig iron production over the long run will be higher than that of crude steel. At present, over 65% of China's total iron production is produced by imported iron ore [33]. From a long-term perspective, the demand for iron ore will continue to decline [44] (Figure 15). *Metals* **2020**, *10*, 302 16 of 19

**Figure 15.** Trend of iron ore and scrap consumption by China's steel industry **Figure 15.** Trend of iron ore and scrap consumption by China's steel industry.

At present, 70% of energy consumption and 85% of CO2 emissions of China's steel industry are concentrated in converting iron ore into molten iron [29,30]. The SR of China's steel industry hovering between 10% and 15% over the last decade, and it will be not less than 25% in 2025 according to the development plan of China′s steel industry. This will make a significant contribution to reducing the energy consumption of China′s steel industry. At present, 70% of energy consumption and 85% of CO<sup>2</sup> emissions of China's steel industry are concentrated in converting iron ore into molten iron [29,30]. The SR of China's steel industry hovering between 10% and 15% over the last decade, and it will be not less than 25% in 2025 according to the development plan of China0 s steel industry. This will make a significant contribution to reducing the energy consumption of China0 s steel industry.

#### **5. Results and Discussion 5. Results and Discussion**

*5.2. Policy Implications* 

Industry."

#### *5.1. Conclusions 5.1. Conclusions*

This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the development and current situation of China's steel industry, including steel production, steel consumption, production structure development, energy-saving technology development, overall energy consumption, process energy consumption, and carbon emissions. The future development of the energy-saving work of China's steel industry is also analyzed. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the development and current situation of China's steel industry, including steel production, steel consumption, production structure development, energy-saving technology development, overall energy consumption, process energy consumption, and carbon emissions. The future development of the energy-saving work of China's steel industry is also analyzed.

At present, China's steel production is not expected to increase in the medium and long term. Pig iron production shows the same characteristics, and the demand for coke and iron ore will also continue to decline. Over the next few years, China can reduce its energy consumption and carbon emissions by eliminating backward production capacity (technological upgrading), implementing energy-saving technologies, increasing scrap consumption, and reducing the production of ironmaking systems. At present, China's steel production is not expected to increase in the medium and long term. Pig iron production shows the same characteristics, and the demand for coke and iron ore will also continue to decline. Over the next few years, China can reduce its energy consumption and carbon emissions by eliminating backward production capacity (technological upgrading), implementing energy-saving technologies, increasing scrap consumption, and reducing the production of iron-making systems.

Second, illegal and irregular steel enterprises should be investigated and punished in accordance with the law. Third, industry regulations should be conscientiously implemented to eliminate backward production capacity. These regulations include "Standard Conditions for Iron and Steel Industry" (revised in 2015) and "Standardized Enterprise Management Measures for Iron and Steel

5.2.1. Scientifically and Rationally Elimination of Backward Production Capacity
