Ordos on path to industrial, energy structure transformation

An aerial view of the solar power project in Dalad Banner in Ordos [Photo/Ordos news network]

The city of Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region is adjusting its energy and industrial structure to cope to better adhere to green development.

Ordos is an important energy and strategic resource base in China. The city's cashmere output is 3,300 metric tons annually, and the production capacity of cashmere products accounts for a half of the country's total and two fifths of the world's total.

Meanwhile, the city's coal reserves exceed 210 billion tons, accounting for one sixth of the country's total, while the city's kaolin reserves stand at 6.5 billion tons, the quality of which is among the best in China.

Moreover, natural gas reserves in Ordos stand at 5 trillion cubic meters, accounting for one third of the country's total, and production of wind energy and solar energy is more than 120 million kilowatts.

The world's first zero-carbon industrial park is established in Ordos. [Photo/Ordos news network]

Due to its rich natural resources, in 2021, the GDP of Ordos reached 471.57 billion yuan, ranking 53rd among prefecture-level cities in the country, and in the first half of this year, the regional GDP came in at 255 billion yuan.

To achieve the dual carbon goals, in which China will reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, Ordos is upgrading its coal industry by reducing pollution emissions and improving production and processing efficiency and quality while boosting the development of the new energy industry.

This year, Ordos started construction on new energy projects with a power capacity of 15 million kW, and recently received approval for projects with a power capacity of an additional 24 million kW.

It is expected that by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the installed capacity of new energy will reach 50 million kW, accounting for more than 50 percent of the total installed power capacity in the city.

A battery production line in Ordos is in full operation. [Photo/Ordos news network]