A key industrial project with a total investment of 150 million yuan ($20.8 million) is set to begin trial production in July, becoming the first facility in Hangjin Banner dedicated to processing coal-series kaolin.

The project, built by Ordos Xingyuan Shengye New Materials Co, is designed to process 250,000 tons of coal-series kaolin annually. Once operational, it will produce 180,000 tons of calcined kaolin (lumps), 20,000 tons of coarse raw kaolin, and 20,000 tons of fine raw kaolin.

Using coal gangue—a solid byproduct of coal mining—as its main raw material, the facility employs a three-stage vertical kiln calcination process to convert industrial waste into high-purity kaolin. The end product is widely used in premium papermaking, fine ceramics, environmental coatings, rubber reinforcement, refractories and new energy materials.

With main construction completed, the company aims to reach trial production conditions by July. The project is expected to fill a critical gap in the local coal-series kaolin processing industry, extend the regional coal value chain, reduce solid waste accumulation and support ecological restoration efforts. It will also foster the growth of a new materials industry cluster, contributing to a circular, low-carbon and high-efficiency development pathway.