On the morning of October 12th, a loud explosion marked the end of an era as the Yellow Phosphorus Production Plant of Yunnan Phosphorus Group Jinning Yellow Phosphorus Co., Ltd.—with an annual capacity of 2,500 tons—was demolished. This event symbolized a broader shift in Yunnan Province’s approach to its yellow phosphorus industry. To date, seven yellow phosphorus plants with annual capacities of 5,000 tons or less have been dismantled, and more than half of the production lines across the sector have undergone technological upgrades. As the largest producer of yellow phosphorus in China, Yunnan has made significant progress in improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact through its "supporting excellence and eliminating inferior" policy.
The yellow phosphorus industry is known for its "three highs and one low" characteristics: high energy consumption, high resource use, high pollution, and low efficiency. It is a key sector under strict national regulations for energy conservation and emissions reduction. Yunnan, home to 57 yellow phosphorus producers and 147 production lines, accounted for 51% of the country's total output last year. However, only four companies produced over 10,000 tons annually, representing just 7.7% of the total. This imbalance led to resource waste and environmental degradation, prompting urgent regulatory action.
Since 2003, the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee and government have focused on phasing out outdated facilities and promoting industrial upgrading. In that year, all yellow phosphorus plants with capacities below 2,000 tons were shut down. The province later introduced the Interim Measures for the Administration of the Announcement of Yellow Phosphorus Production Devices and, in June of last year, issued Opinions on Promoting Structural Adjustment of the Industry. These measures aim to eliminate all production units below 5,000 tons by the end of this year.
To encourage modernization, Yunnan has actively supported technological upgrades. Currently, 73 production lines use advanced three-phase six-pole technology, while six employ triangular furnace systems. Over half of all lines now operate with state-of-the-art methods. All large-scale units (5,000 tons or more) feature intelligent electrode control systems, significantly improving energy efficiency. In cities like Kunming, Yuxi, and Qujing, phosphorus slag utilization rates have reached 100%, and most enterprises have achieved full phosphorus recovery and reuse. Three dedicated sludge recycling companies operate in the province, and all wastewater from yellow phosphorus production is treated to achieve zero discharge.
According to recent reports, 43 small yellow phosphorus plants will be phased out by the end of 2008, with 35 more to close by the end of this year and another eight by mid-2009. These efforts reflect Yunnan’s commitment to sustainable development and a cleaner, more efficient yellow phosphorus industry.