Asia Cement Corporation (China) plans Sustainability Development strategy to create a prosperous future together

        The global economic environment has undergone significant changes in recent years. On the one hand, the development of digital technology has accelerated, driving the digital transformation of global industries and enterprises; On the other hand, countries around the world are increasingly concerned about climate issues. On December 13, 2023, at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), the international community agreed for the first time on the net zero target for fossil fuels: "to rapidly transition from fossil fuel energy systems in a fair, orderly, and equitable manner, accelerate action in this critical decade, and achieve scientific net zero emissions around 2050.". Meanwhile, ESG, as a barometer of green development for enterprises, is rapidly developing under China's "dual carbon" goals

                In the challenging new era, Asia Cement Corporation (China) demonstrates the non-traditional attempt of traditional industries, actively seeking innovation and change, embracing ESG, integrating group resources, and moving towards the two major medium - and long-term goals of "technological innovation" and "net zero emissions".

        Improve the top-level design and ESG management system

        A sound governance structure and sound governance system are the cornerstone of Asia Cement Corporation (China) Sustainability Development. In order to improve the management of enterprise sustainability, a "Enterprise Sustainability Committee" was established by the board of directors to guide and promote enterprise sustainability, guiding the company's Sustainability Development work. The CEO serves as a member of the Section Chief of the Enterprise Sustainability Promotion Committee to strengthen the implementation of ESG management. The company formulates a sustainable development strategy around stakeholders such as communities, employees, and suppliers, covering industrial innovation, environmental protection, health and safety, energy efficiency, sustainable procurement, employees and society, etc., expanding ESG attention and improving overall governance capabilities.

        Promoting technological innovation and green development mutually promote each other

        The cement industry is constantly calling for cement to be included in the carbon sink market as soon as possible and implementing stricter carbon emission quotas. Asia Cement Corporation (China) strengthens low-carbon technology research and development, promotes the implementation of ultra-low emission transformation, accelerates the process of digital intelligence, and promotes the transformation and upgrading of industries towards green and low-carbon through a sound technological innovation system.

        In terms of technological innovation, Asia Cement Corporation (China) continuously stimulates the innovation vitality of all employees, adheres to the research and application of environmental protection technologies, and promotes process technology innovation. Through nearly two years of exploration and effort, Jiangxi Yadong Cement under its jurisdiction has obtained 9 utility model patents and 2 invention patents, covering the field of mixer technology, cement clinker production process, tail gas treatment and denitrification equipment, bulk mud weighing system, ship unloading device, long belt transmission equipment, etc., achieving a transformation from production, transportation and sales throughout the entire process.

        In terms of carbon reduction at the source, the managed cement factory will use industrial waste to replace some cement raw materials, reduce the use of limestone and other resources, and actively promote biomass as a substitute for fuel, in order to achieve efficient resource utilization. It is worth mentioning that the recycled economy material sources of Asia Cement Corporation (China) cover government departments, as well as waste and resource products from industries such as steel, petrochemicals, and papermaking. For example, Jiangxi Yadong Cement assists the government in handling household waste and waste from scientific and technological paper production; Hubei Yadong Cement deals with heavy metal contaminated soil... etc.

        In terms of carbon reduction in the production process, Asia Cement Corporation (China) has partnered with Taiwan's Asia Cement Corporation Hualien Factory and Ding&Ding Management Consultants to build an exclusive smart energy management system, which has been put into operation. We continue to seek opportunities for energy conservation, consumption reduction, and emission reduction from various aspects of production, saving 0.75% of electricity annually and effectively reducing CO2 emissions by more than 10000 tons. With this as the core, we expand our smart projects, covering optimization control, quality control, logistics management, and equipment management. We continue to build Asia Cement Corporation (China) data analysis platform, and have successfully developed smart cutting and transmission systems, L-NOx dual loop efficient denitrification system applications, energy management systems, and smart shipping systems. Multiple integrated intelligent applications such as equipment vibration management system. In the future, there are plans to further integrate water resources, dust collectors and other management systems, strengthen refined management, and achieve comprehensive integration from raw materials, products, equipment, workshops, factories to the industrial chain, supply chain, and value chain, comprehensively improving energy conservation and consumption reduction levels.

        The company continuously promotes the level of pollution control, explores and optimizes ultra-low emission technologies for the main pollutants (particulate matter, SO2, NOx) in cement kilns, and uses various methods such as low nitrogen combustion, ammonia desulfurization, composite desulfurization, and bag dust collection to carry out denitrification SCR, rotary kiln resistance reduction and energy conservation renovations, achieving coordinated emission reduction of pollutants, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide, and building a green factory in the cement industry. In addition, we also design and install our own packaging cement loading dust collection hood and equipment to control the unorganized emission concentration of dust from the bag mud loading system

        Creating a Happy Workplace, Supporting Vulnerable Groups, Cultivating Cultural Heritage, Creating a Prosperous Society

        The company adheres to sharing with society and advancing with employees, committed to fulfilling corporate responsibility. By providing employees with good salary and benefits, systematic career development planning, thoughtful humanistic care, and a safe and healthy working environment, we establish a harmonious relationship of mutual respect, trust, and common growth with employees, and work together to create a happy workplace. At the same time, we also leverage the advantages of cement enterprises to fully allocate resources, assist in rebuilding homes in disaster areas, and actively respond to the central rural revitalization strategy, promoting the improvement of rural infrastructure construction in cities such as Ruichang and Pengzhou. We will continue to pay attention to vulnerable groups and support education and cultural undertakings. In 2023, Asia Cement Corporation (China) will give back nearly CNY 2.6 million to society. In the future, we will continue to pay attention to the needs of surrounding communities and contribute Asia Cement Corporation's efforts to creating a green home.

        The company always adheres to the concept of ecological priority and green development, pursues coordinated development between the enterprise and the ecological environment, and helps to create a beautiful home with evergreen mountains and abundant vitality. Since its establishment, we have always attached great importance to the greening and ecological conservation of mining plants, in order to reduce the impact of mining on the environment. The five mines of Jiangxi Yadong Cement and the three mines of Huanggang Yadong Cement have also obtained provincial or national level green mine certification.

        Asia Cement Corporation (China) has gone through countless political, economic, and current changes, and remains calm in every historical trajectory. Seizing the opportunity for change, it takes the entrepreneurial spirit of "sincerity, diligence, simplicity, prudence, and innovation" as the highest guiding principle for business development. In the future, it will continue to promote the group's resource integration plan, formulate Sustainability Development strategies, embrace a green and intelligent future, refine higher brand value, and create a win-win situation for the enterprise, society, and environment. (This article is reprinted from the Chair report of Asia Cement Corporation (China) Holdings' 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report.)

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