Work has begun on a state of the art coastal Chinese steel plant which promises to create 80,000 jobs.

The Zenith Nantong Steel project, which is costing the equivalent of US $14.77 billion, broke ground at the end of August.

The project is one of the first to be created in a coastal location in line with the Chinese government’s mandate to preserve the Yangtze, the world’s third longest, from further industrial pollution.

Historically, China’s steel producers have favoured riverside locations.

CISDI is the master planner and designer of Zenith Nantong, which will be located at the Lingang Steel Industrial Park in China’s Jiangsu Province.

CISDI is also in charge of EPC management and supply of the main production equipment.

The company’s systematic solutions and green, intelligent manufacturing expertise will make Nantong a state-of-the-art, green and intelligent plant, capable of producing 20 million tonnes a year.

Two phases of production are planned. Phase I will produce eight million tonnes of prime bars and wire rods a year and a full-specification-range of H sections. Phase II will be envisaged to produce mainly sections.

In the meantime, the circular economy, steel deep processing and prefabricated steel structure industries will be developed along with the steel plant.

After Phase I hits production targets, the steelworks will create around 80,000 jobs and will take a leading role in optimising the regional distribution of productivity.

At the breaking of ground ceremony Caiping Dong, chairman of Zenith Steel Group, praised the concerted efforts engineering and construction companies had made to catch up with the build schedule.

“We will work together to meet every construction milestone in the 13-month timeframe and ensure quality is controlled throughout. Our diligence and combined intelligence will create a world-class green, intelligent steelworks,” he said.

“Nantong’s new base will be efficient, intensive and eco-friendly,” emphasised Mr Dong.

 

✧         Super clean: zero liquid discharge and full recovery of solid wastes

Nantong Steel will operate to China’s highest environmental standards - with zero liquid discharge, zero solid waste emissions and clean transport.

Its waste gas emissions indicator will beat China’s ultra-low emissions standard by 30 per cent.

At least 90 per cent of the steel plant’s transportation system will run with clean transport tech via a combination of river, sea and rail.

All energy consumption indicators for production procedures will achieve the top values for China’s steel sector.

A clean, garden-like environment will be created.

 

✧         Super smart: intelligent manufacturing and reduced workforce

An advanced smart centre will encompass a large-scale centralised control system, an intelligent manufacturing control platform, automation control systems and high-end industrial robots.

Remote operation of production sites will be possible from a distance of over five kilometres.

Overall labour productivity of 2,000 tonnes per capita a year will be targeted, a leading level for the sector in China.

 

✧         Super-efficient: intensive production and remarkable economies

The Nantong steelworks will be scaled up to achieve intensive production and create economies.

CISDI has master-planned a compact general layout with short and efficient logistics. The functional divisions are optimised.

The aim is to achieve world-class production efficiency, land use efficiency per tonne of crude steel, energy utilisation efficiency and labour productivity.

Combined, these targets will create remarkable economic results. CISDI’s cost-based consulting solutions will give the steelworks long-term market competitiveness and sustainability.

 

✧         Super safe: people-oriented working environment

Massive, centralised control applications, video linkage control and intellisense tech will make Nantong an ultra-safe working environment.

Gas operations will be controlled remotely by integrated gas concentration measuring, monitor and video and valve interlock control tech.

Many workers will be replaced by robots and intelligent systems will be based 5km from the plant.

Operation posts and the factory environment will be much safer.

 

✧         Premium quality: advanced equipment ensuring supreme products

CISDI’s clean steel melting and high-precision rolling expertise will contribute to ensuring the liquid steel and rolled products are super-clean and prime quality.

CISDI’s advanced manufacturing solutions will provide the core support for Zenith’s brand products.

 

  

Heavy-duty construction machinery was already in place when the ground-breaking ceremony was staged at Zenith Nantong Steel

 

 

Artist’s impression of the plan for Zenith Nantong Steel