Located in Shanxi Province, Pingding County of Yangquan City is renowned for its abundant limestone resources, boasting reserves exceeding 10 billion tons with an oxide calcium content ranging from 52% to 54%. For a long time, the lime industry has been a traditional pillar industry in the county.
In recent years, leveraging its high-quality limestone resources and solid industrial foundation, Pingding County has been striving to establish a calcium-based new material industry base. To achieve this goal, the county has continuously extended, complemented, and strengthened its industrial chain, aiming to enhance the modernization level of the industrial chain.
According to the understanding of Color Masterbatch Industry Network, the 2024 Pingding County Government Work Report emphasized the development focus of the calcium-based industry. The report stated that full efforts should be made to promote the integration of non-coal mines, and plan and implement green and smart mine construction projects. In particular, leading enterprises in the industry, such as Xinghuo Hengyuan and Hengyuexing, should be supported to complete green, low-carbon, and intelligent transformations. At the same time, focus should be placed on the production of 4 million tons of calcium oxide and its subsequent deep processing industry, actively developing active calcium oxide, and further expanding mid-to-high-end products such as high specific surface area calcium hydroxide and nano-calcium carbonate to enhance the added value of calcium-based products.
To efficiently and conservatively utilize limestone resources, Pingding County has legally carried out the integration of limestone mines, aiming to optimize resource allocation, standardize mining activities, and improve the level of resource development and protection. This measure not only promotes the deep processing and extension of the lime industry but also boosts the efficient utilization of mineral resources, achieving green and healthy industrial development, thereby effectively converting resource advantages into industrial and economic advantages.
After integration, there are currently 22 market entities in the limestone industry in Pingding County, and the resource volume of limestone mining rights that have been transferred reaches 1.02 billion tons. It is estimated that the annual output of limestone in the county will reach 30 million tons, achieving an industrial output value of 3.6 billion yuan and an added value of 1.6 billion yuan.
To further extend the industrial chain and strengthen the development of the calcium-based new material industry, Pingding County has formulated the “Development Plan for the Calcium-Based New Material Industry.” This plan clarifies development goals and specific measures, strengthens policy support, project layout, and technological innovation, aiming to build a national-level active calcium oxide (nano-calcium carbonate) industrial base.
As one of the leading enterprises in the lime industry in Pingding County, Yangquan Hengyuexing Calcium Industry Co., Ltd. has actively explored the entire industry chain of “limestone – quicklime (calcium oxide) – deep processing of calcium-based products” in recent years. The company has invested in and introduced a high specific surface area calcium hydroxide project with a designed annual output of 100,000 tons. Meanwhile, Shanxi Xinghuo Hengyuan Industry and Trade Co., Ltd. is also strengthening scientific and technological innovation, committed to developing new productive forces, and accelerating the advancement of an annual output of 4 million tons of active calcium oxide projects and high value-added nano-calcium carbonate projects.
In 2023, 22 limestone enterprises in Pingding County were included in statistics, and the annual output value of calcium-based enterprises reached 940 million yuan, making it one of the counties (districts) with the highest output of the calcium-based industry in Shanxi Province.
Looking ahead, Pingding County will continue to adhere to the new industrialization orientation, focusing on the development direction of high-end, intelligent, green, and integrated development. By strengthening scientific and technological innovation and ensuring essential factors, the county will accelerate the advancement of projects such as nano-calcium carbonate powder and new nano-calcium materials, further expand application areas, enhance product value, and extend the recycling industry chain of limestone to facilitate industrial transformation and development.