As the transition to green transportation accelerates across the Chinese mainland, a new challenge has emerged: the mass retirement of power batteries from new energy vehicles (NEVs). To address this, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently called for robust legal measures to regulate the recycling process, ensuring environmental safety and industrial sustainability.
During a high-level meeting held this past Thursday, the ministry emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive regulatory framework. With the annual volume of retired power batteries projected to exceed 1 million tonnes by 2030, the scale of the task is immense. The ministry is now demanding strict investigations and penalties for illegal activities, such as unauthorized disposal, the production of substandard products from retired batteries, and unlicensed operations that lead to environmental pollution.
To ensure accountability, the Chinese mainland plans to integrate digital technologies to better monitor battery flows. This digital approach will track batteries throughout their lifecycle, ensuring that enterprises across the industrial chain fulfill their tracing and recycling responsibilities.
Beyond regulation, the ministry is encouraging a collaborative ecosystem. By fostering deeper partnerships between industry associations, research institutions, and key companies, the government aims to accelerate the development of advanced recycling equipment and explore innovative business models. This strategic push is designed to transform a potential waste crisis into a cornerstone for the high-quality development of the green energy sector.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
