Chinalco Shandong Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, achieved a milestone as a train laden with imported coal reached its Shandong-based thermal power plant via its dedicated railway on November 22.

This development marks the successful establishment of a key channel for importing seaborne coal, expanding energy supply alternatives and pioneering the usage of imported coal in alumina-producing enterprises in northern China.

On November 14, a vessel carrying 77,000 tonnes of premium Australian thermal coal smoothly docked at Longkou port of the province. The arrival sets the stage for Chinalco Shandong's thermal power plant to utilize high-quality and cost-effective thermal coal.

"We will collaborate with the plant to conduct trial burn of the imported coal, conducting a thorough economic evaluation. If the results are favorable, we will increase the proportion of imported coal to reduce operational costs for the enterprise," said an official from the company's material management department.