China issues new regulations on recycle of depleted NEV batteries

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Tuesday issued new regulations on the comprehensive utilization of waste power batteries for new energy vehicles (NEVs), in order to improve the comprehensive utilization efficiency of these batteries and guide the orderly investment and development of relevant enterprises.

The new regulations mainly focus on four aspects.

First, the MIIT has optimized the technical indicator system. The technical indicator of lithium recovery rate in the smelting process shall be raised from no less than 85 percent to no less than 90 percent. The recovery rate of electrode powder after being crushed and separated shall be no less than 98 percent, and the content of impurity aluminum shall be less than 1.5 percent.

Second, the ministry has updated and improved multiple standards and norms by adding new provisions on dismantlement and coding standards for waste power batteries of NEVs.

Third, the ministry has put forward new requirements for lithium-ion batteries for electric bicycles. It is clarified that batteries of cascade utilization shall not be used in electric bicycles, and recycling companies shall take into account the treatment of waste lithium-ion batteries of electric bicycles.

Fourth, the ministry will also strengthen regulations on product quality management and enterprise site selection.

The MIIT noted that enterprises should set up a mechanism to enable the product traceability and responsibility investigation, and add mandatory standards for recycled products, so as to further improve the quality of comprehensive product utilization.

It also made clear that the newly built product comprehensive utilization enterprises should enter industrial parks as required, in a bid to drive the rational layout of enterprises and promote the agglomeration development of industries.

China issues new regulations on recycle of depleted NEV batteries

Twenty-nine survivors were found in the passenger plane crash in Aktau, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) reported.

An Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines with flight number J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau Airport on Wednesday with a total of 67 people on board.

According to the MES, 482 people are involved in the rescue on site, as well as 97 pieces of equipment, two aircraft and four teams of search and rescue dogs.

A group of electric power workers near the crash site were among the first batch of rescuers, who said they helped save around 15 people at the scene.

"We saw the plane crash with our own eyes and quickly packed up to head to the scene for rescue. Later, personnel from the Ministry of Emergency Situations and hospital staff members arrived. About 10 of us went there. We brought a crane to help rescue people from the cabin," a rescuer said.

The emergency departments of Kazakhstan, Russia and Azerbaijan exchanged information via video conference.

According to Subkhonkul Rakhimov, a survivor of the crash, the plane suddenly rose rapidly and began to increase its altitude when it was about to land in Grozny. There was heavy fog at the time, and the crew tried to land the plane in Grozny three times, but all failed. An explosion occurred during the third attempt to land.

29 survivors rescued from plane crash in Kazakhstan