February 10, 2022: The International Lead and Zinc Study Group’s (ILZSG) January 10 briefing paper — Future Trends in China’s Economic Development — said the country’s 14th five-year plan included a focus on developing data centres, cloud computing and the “digitization of traditional infrastructures such as energy and utilities”.

The paper said: “A secure and reliable power supply is of paramount importance in ensuring the stable operation of these modern infrastructures, and this provides opportunities for zinc and lead containing batteries.

“It is also anticipated that lead acid batteries will be widely adopted in power backup facilities.”

The paper noted that other battery types are also “vying for the growth potential in these sectors” — but said “zinc and lead containing batteries could be an ideal option for wide adoption, thanks to their improving energy density and low cost”.

China’s demand for imported lead ore and concentrates over the past 20 years has bolstered the international trading market and provided strong support for overseas lead mining activities, according to the ILZSG.

Between 2004 and 2020, China bought 20%-40% of the lead ore and concentrate produced outside the country.

However, the ILZSG said as China embraces stricter emissions policies — with a pledge to reach a carbon peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 — non-ferrous metals companies, including lead and zinc smelting and refining operations, “will be put under strict scrutiny”.

This is “very likely to result in higher operational costs and the requirement for cleaner raw materials when importing ores and concentrates.”

Reprinted from:https://www.batteriesinternational.com/2022/02/10/lead-batteries-set-for-wide-adoption-as-china-expands-backup-power/(If there is any infringement liability, please inform us in time, we will delete the content immediately, thank you.)