Recently, seven departments including the Shandong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued the "Work Plan for Stabilizing Growth in Shandong's Petrochemical and Chemical Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Work Plan"). The plan clearly outlines the core goal of achieving a year-on-year increase of over 5% in the added value of the province's petrochemical and chemical industry by 2026, promoting both qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth in the sector. As a crucial pillar of the province's industrial economy, the measures to stabilize growth in the petrochemical and chemical industry will lay a solid foundation for Shandong to establish itself as a world-class high-end chemical industry base.

The goals proposed in the "Work Plan" focus on "simultaneous growth in quantity and quality." In addition to the target for added value growth, it specifies that by 2026, the proportion of high-end chemicals in the province's chemical industry will exceed 60%. At the same time, the energy supply system and raw material guarantee structure in the basic chemical sector will be further optimized, while the competitiveness of products in the fields of chemical new materials and fine chemicals will be significantly enhanced, providing key support for the stable operation of the province's industrial economy.

It is reported that the petrochemical and chemical industry is one of the 12 key sectors in Shandong targeted for growth stabilization. These industries collectively account for approximately 67% of the province's total industrial output value, forming the backbone of the industrial economy. To ensure the implementation of these goals, the "Work Plan" outlines five key measures, establishing a comprehensive advancement system centered on "innovation-driven development, structural optimization, supply-side upgrading, ecosystem improvement, and green and safe development."

In terms of innovation-driven development, efforts will focus on integrating science and industry to enhance innovation capabilities, tackling key core technologies, and fostering original technological breakthroughs. Priority will be given to meeting the demands of critical sectors such as national defense, integrated circuits, and new energy, supporting breakthroughs in the research and development of high-end chemical products such as high-end polyolefins, high-performance fibers, and electronic chemicals. This initiative will further strengthen Shandong's technological advantages in the chemical industry. Previously, Shandong's green chemical and new materials pilot platform has been upgraded to a "national-level" platform, facilitating the industrialization of over 50 scientific research achievements and providing robust support for technological innovation and transformation.

In the area of structural optimization, policy regulation will be strengthened to optimize the structure of the basic chemical industry. Efforts will continue to promote capacity optimization and integration, with tasks to reduce coking capacity being implemented city by city and enterprise by enterprise. Major projects will be advanced steadily, including the diversification of raw materials for ethylene plants to enhance supply security. Strict adherence to regulatory requirements for industries with high energy consumption, high emissions, and overcapacity will be enforced to address structural contradictions. Currently, Shandong is driving industrial upgrading through major projects such as the Yulong Island refining and chemical integration project, facilitating the transformation of the petrochemical industry from raw material output to fine chemicals.

Supply-side upgrading will focus on transformation and enhancement to strengthen high-end supply capabilities. On one hand, the "Three Products" initiative in fine chemicals will be implemented to increase product variety, improve quality, and build brands. On the other hand, traditional sectors such as fertilizers, chlor-alkali, and tires will undergo transformation and upgrading. Additionally, the intelligent and digital transformation of the chemical industry will be deepened, leveraging digitalization and intelligence to enhance the quality and efficiency of traditional industries.

In building the industrial ecosystem, efforts will be made to deepen integration and strengthen industrial chains, accelerating the cultivation of "single champions" and specialized, sophisticated, innovative enterprises in fields such as chemical new energy, new materials, and high-end fine chemicals. Chemical industrial parks will be encouraged to benchmark and improve their overall quality, while enterprises will be guided to engage in foreign investment and cooperation, fostering a collaborative ecosystem where large, medium, and small enterprises thrive together.

Green and safe development is given significant emphasis in the "Work Plan." It proposes conducting assessments and upgrades for production facilities that have reached their design lifespan or have been in operation for over 20 years. Efforts will also focus on updating key energy and water-consuming equipment, reducing solid waste at the source, and promoting comprehensive utilization. Energy-saving, pollution reduction, and carbon reduction initiatives will be implemented collaboratively, aiming to establish "super-efficient" and "zero-carbon" chemical enterprises. These measures align closely with the requirements for building Shandong into a pioneer in green, low-carbon, and high-quality development, driving the green transformation of the petrochemical and chemical industry.

A relevant official from the Shandong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology stated that Shandong will implement the "Work Plan" through policy support, precise services, and other measures. Key regions and enterprises will be closely monitored to address prominent issues, ensuring the stable operation of the petrochemical and chemical industry and contributing significantly to the steady growth of the province's industrial economy.