It’s time for Tongren, Guizhou to pursue “newness” and “greenness”

**Interview with a Local Expert on Guizhou’s Green Development and Manganese Industry**

**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today. Can you share with us the significance of manganese in the context of Guizhou’s economy, particularly in Tongren City?

**Expert:** Absolutely! Manganese, with an atomic number of 25, has traditionally been used primarily in stainless steel production. However, with the rapid expansion of electric vehicle batteries, its role has evolved significantly. In Tongren City, located in northeast Guizhou and nestled in the heart of the Wuling Mountains, we have the largest reserves of manganese carbonate in the country and even in Asia—around 753 million tons, including four world-class super-large manganese deposits.

**Interviewer:** That’s impressive. However, I understand that the area has faced environmental challenges due to past mining practices.

**Expert:** Yes, that’s correct. For many years, unregulated mining and inefficient production processes resulted in severe environmental pollution, leading to a stigma associated with manganese in the local community. Fortunately, we are now shifting towards more sustainable practices.

**Interviewer:** Can you explain the recent initiatives being implemented in Tongren to harness its manganese resources sustainably?

**Expert:** Certainly! In recent years, Tongren has leveraged its manganese advantages to focus on high-end battery manufacturing, energy storage materials production, and the recycling of used batteries. This has led to the development of a complete industrial chain for new energy battery materials and deep processing of manganese-based materials.

**Interviewer:** Speaking of new energy, what developments can we expect to see in the Guizhou Dazhu Economic Development Zone?

**Expert:** The Dazhu Economic Development Zone is a hub for new energy products. For instance, in the battery materials production area, we process around 200 tons of manganese sulfide slag daily, yielding about 20 tons of metallic manganese and 1 ton of cobalt and nickel. This innovative practice of turning waste into valuable products is making a significant impact.

**Interviewer:** That sounds promising. What about companies like Zhongwei New Materials? How are they contributing to the industry?

**Expert:** Zhongwei New Materials, which established itself in Dazhu through investment attraction in 2014, has made remarkable strides over the past decade. It has become the world’s largest supplier of ternary precursors for lithium batteries. Their production of ternary precursors and cobalt tetraoxide has consistently ranked first globally for several years. Their success has also attracted other high-quality new energy battery material enterprises to Tongren.

**Interviewer:** Impressive numbers! Can you share any specific statistics on Tongren’s market share in these industries?

**Expert:** Of course! Tongren accounts for 85% of the national market share in high-purity manganese sulfate and 15% in graphite for lithium-ion battery anodes. Additionally, our ternary precursor materials hold over 20% share in the global market. Importantly, Tongren has been recognized as one of the two industrial clusters in Guizhou to be on the “first batch of national strategic emerging industry clusters” list.

**Interviewer:** It seems like you’re making great strides in both economic development and environmental sustainability. How are these efforts reflected in Tongren’s ecology?

**Expert:** In fact, we are committed to enhancing ecological protection while pursuing economic growth. As of July 2024, Tongren’s forest coverage rate reached 66.2%, with an impressive 98.9% of days in the city meeting air quality standards. Our water quality has consistently maintained a 100% good rating across 12 national monitoring sites. This improved environmental quality enhances the city’s appeal and livability.

**Interviewer:** Could you elaborate on some innovative ecological initiatives in Tongren?

**Expert:** Certainly! One notable initiative is the establishment of the “Fanjing Ecological Account” in Jiangkou County, where the ecological points can be redeemed for various benefits like credit limits and lower interest rates on loans. We’ve seen remarkable adoption, with over 50,000 accounts established and a total credit of 7.43 billion yuan. This transition from ecological advantages to economic benefits is substantial.

**Interviewer:** What future industries do you see emerging from these ecological efforts?

**Expert:** Our focus is on developing sustainable industries such as ecological tea, medicinal herbs, ecological livestock, fruits, oil tea, and edible fungi. Today, the green economy contributes 48% to the regional GDP, indicating our economic progress is increasingly valuing ecological sustainability.

**Interviewer:** It sounds like Tongren is well on its way toward a sustainable and prosperous future. Thank you for sharing these insights!

**Expert:** Thank you for having me. It’s an exciting time for Tongren, and I look forward to seeing our continued progress in green development.