Zhejiang plans to increase the electricity price of high energy-consuming enterprises, the chlor-alkali industry is under pressure

The Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission is seeking opinions on adjusting the electricity price of high-energy-consuming enterprises
.
On May 19, a reporter from China Chemical Industry News learned from an interview with the Zhejiang Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association that the increase in electricity prices by 0.
172 yuan/kWh will have a greater impact on Zhejiang chlor-alkali enterprises that are already better than the national benchmark level, and even lead to Total loss
.
The association suggests that when electricity prices are further marketized, the characteristics of the industrial chain and the level of energy consumption of enterprises should be comprehensively considered
.

According to the "Notice of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission and Provincial Energy Bureau on Adjusting Electricity Prices for High Energy-consuming Enterprises (Draft for Comment)" and the drafting instructions disclosed by the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Zhejiang Province will High-energy-consuming enterprises in 5 categories and 17 subcategories (such as product manufacturing) (nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing and phosphate fertilizer manufacturing are not included for the time being) will implement electricity price increases
.
The specific price adjustment range is: from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, the electricity price will increase by 0.
172 yuan/kWh; from 2023, the electricity price of the above-mentioned high-energy-consuming enterprises will be determined by market-based transactions, and will not be subject to a 20% increase limit
.

Zhang Xu, vice-chairman of the Zhejiang Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association, told reporters that among chemical companies, the chlor-alkali companies are most affected by the increase in electricity prices
.
At present, the 6 chlor-alkali enterprises in Zhejiang have a total annual production capacity of 2.
2 million tons, all of which use advanced ion membrane technology with a single tank of 20,000 tons and above
.
The chlorine, alkali, and hydrogen produced by it are used for the downstream products of the park and the enterprise itself, there is no excess capacity, and the energy consumption level is better than the "Benchmark Level and Benchmark Level of Energy Efficiency in Key Fields of High Energy-consuming Industries (2021 Edition)".
of 315 kg standard coal/ton
.

Zhang Xu said that the increase in electricity price by 0.
172 yuan/kWh may lead to a comprehensive loss in Zhejiang's chlor-alkali industry, which is at the leading domestic level
.
Moreover, the electricity price adjustment policy is only within the scope of Zhejiang Province, and does not involve other major chlor-alkali provinces.
It will directly affect the market competitiveness of downstream products in the province, and indirectly affect the competitiveness of these advantageous enterprises in the country, and cannot promote the industry.
The original intention of the survival of the fittest
.
Now in the period of epidemic prevention and control, the production and operation of enterprises will be more difficult
.

According to Sun Zhixin, Secretary-General of the Chlor-Alkali Branch of Zhejiang Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association, there are many types of chlor-alkali products with high correlation, and their downstream products reach thousands of varieties, which are widely used in agriculture, petrochemical industry, light industry, textiles, building materials, electric power The lifeline departments of the national economy such as metallurgy, metallurgy, national defense and military industry play an important role in China's economic development
.
"The chlor-alkali enterprises in Zhejiang are currently all in the formal chemical industry parks and the energy consumption level is leading in the country
.
When adjusting the policy, the cost of the power sector should be considered, and the characteristics of other industrial chains that are related to the national economy and people's livelihood should also be considered.
Downstream industries are adversely affected
.
”

It is understood that the chemical industry in Zhejiang Province has continued to vigorously eliminate backward production capacity in recent years, and the proportion of output value of high energy-consuming products has dropped from 15% at the end of the last century to 2% in 2021
.
At the same time, through measures such as actively supporting high-tech industries, encouraging private enterprises to enter the petrochemical field and entering the upstream raw material field, the average profit margin of Zhejiang chemical industry has remained at 7.
7% to 7.
9% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the national industry level.
top in the country
.