BEIJING: China aims to cut energy consumption of steel by 2%, and to lower carbon emissions in the aluminium sector by 5% by 2025, the country’s industry ministry said in a raw materials development plan on Wednesday.

The country will also strengthen the exploration of domestic iron ore and copper resources, and support the development of recycling metals to enhance its resource self-efficiency, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said.

The MIIT said China’s steel, cement and key commodities capacity “will only decrease” by 2025, and it would explore staggered production mechanisms for the steel sector.