The State Council Commission of the Russian Federation on Energy discussed the involvement of ash and slag into industrial circulation.

      July 16, 2025, 10:35 AM

      [113]

      Politics

      A meeting of the State Council Commission of the Russian Federation on the "Energy" sector was held in Moscow. The meeting gathered representatives of federal authorities, experts, and the largest energy and industrial companies.

      The key topic of discussion was the improvement of state regulation in the involvement of ash and slag waste from coal power plants into industrial circulation.

      "The President of Russia has identified the formation of a closed-loop economy as one of the national tasks. By 2030, at least 25% of all production and consumption waste should be involved in economic turnover. The accumulated volume of ash and slag waste in the country is estimated at 1.5 billion tons and covers an area of over 28,000 hectares. Annually, about 18 million tons of ash and slag waste are generated," noted Aisen Nikolaev, head of the commission.

      He reminded that a comprehensive plan to increase the utilization of ash and slag waste was adopted in 2022, and amendments were made to it in 2024. Today, 18 regions of the country have already approved their regional programs. Among them is the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), where such a program was adopted in March of this year. According to Aisen Nikolaev, the total volume of ash and slag in the region is about 15 million tons, with 90% concentrated in the Neryungri district, which significantly limits efficiency, as it depends on transportation distance.

      "During the construction of the 'Sila Sibiri' main gas pipeline, ash and slag from the Neryungri GRES were used in the construction of the cushion under the pipelines. The light fraction of ash is also used for the production of concrete products. In the future, the possibility of installing a modular processing complex for ash and slag materials at the Neryungri GRES is being considered. Currently, we are collaborating with JSC 'Rusatom Infrastructure Solutions' to utilize their experience in waste disposal," shared Aisen Nikolaev from Yakutia.

      In his opinion, Yakutia's experience once again confirms the need to update standardization documents. "There is a need for scientific research to substantiate and ensure the safety of using ash and slag in the production of building materials suitable for operation in the republic's climate conditions," emphasized Nikolaev.

      At the meeting, deputies of the ministers of energy, natural resources, industry and trade, construction and housing-and-communal services, transportation, as well as the head of Rostechnadzor and the leader of the National Association for Secondary Raw Material Recycling, spoke. Practices of ash and slag processing by major Russian companies were presented, including RusHydro, Siberian Generating Company, Inter RAO, En+ Group, and Rosatom Infrastructure Solutions.

      Summing up the discussion, Aisen Nikolaev emphasized: "Today, we reviewed the results of the federal executive agencies' work and the positive experience of companies in recycling and involving ash and slag into industrial circulation. There should be more such projects across all sectors where possible. Factors limiting the involvement of waste in economic turnover were voiced. All barriers need to be removed because this is a matter of a national task."

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