IMDTECL's clean energy shift powers steady business growth

Inner Mongolia Dian Tou Energy Corporation Limited, also known as IMDTECL, has successfully transitioned from a traditional energy enterprise to a clean energy provider in just a few years' time.

The company saw its renewable energy capacity reach around 5 million kilowatts in 2024, accounting for over 62 percent of its total installed capacity, Zhao Changyu, head of the company's new energy department, said.

IMDTECL, the sole listed financing platform of State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, has strategically shifted its focus towards green energy during China's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), aligning with the nation's energy security and dual carbon goals.

The company has built a diversified energy industry system with coal, thermal power, new energy, and electrolytic aluminum as its business cornerstones. It boasts an annual coal production capacity of 48 million tons, 3 million kilowatts of thermal power capacity, around five million kilowatts of new energy capacity, and 860,000 tons of electrolytic aluminum capacity.

Additionally, IMDTECL has built a "coal-new energy-electricity-aluminum" circular economy model, utilizing low-quality coal for power generation and green electricity for electrolytic aluminum production.

Cementing its commitment to clean energy, IMDTECL has invested in manufacturing and technology innovation to promote clean, green, low-carbon, and intelligent operations across its industrial chain.

Shifts in IMDTECL's production processes — such as using unmanned mining trucks and automation systems in its electrolytic aluminum production —have reduced emissions and improved efficiency.

The changes position the company favorably in a market increasingly focused on sustainability, Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University, said.

The trend of unmanned mining trucks and automation systems is transforming the mining industry, driving greater efficiency, safety, and sustainability, he said.

IMDTECL has been optimizing its industrial structure and embracing low-carbon initiatives in recent years. As a result, its assets have grown from 34.5 billion yuan ($4.83 billion) to 55 billion yuan, with owner's equity increasing from 20.6 billion yuan to 40 billion yuan.

The company's profitability has also seen steady growth, with total profits rising from 5.6 billion yuan in 2021 to 6.9 billion yuan in 2024. Net profit attributable to shareholders also increased jumping from 3.6 billion yuan to 5.3 billion yuan.

"This investment is expected to enhance long-term competitiveness and profitability. As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even wider adoption of these technologies in the years to come," Lin said.