The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently announced the shortlisted entities for the 2025 "Open Competition" (a mechanism for selecting project leads) focused on innovation tasks for key fine chemical products. Jiangsu Hongjing New Materials Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Shenghong Petrochemical Industry Group, has been selected for the project concerning "Ethylene-Acrylate Copolymer (EBA) for High-Voltage Cable Shielding Materials." This achievement signifies national-level recognition of Shenghong Petrochemical’s technical prowess and innovation capabilities in the field of high-end polyolefins, marking a solid step forward in my country’s pursuit of self-reliance and control over critical materials for high-voltage cables.
This "Open Competition" initiative targets the core needs for high-end development and domestic substitution within the fine chemical sector. Focusing on three key areas—essential materials, critical equipment, and intermediate raw materials—the program selects industry-leading entities with exceptional innovation capacity and strong potential to drive industrial growth. The objective is to overcome "bottleneck" issues within industrial and supply chains, thereby enhancing the resilience and security of my country’s fine chemical sector. In the realm of essential materials, Ethylene-Acrylate Copolymer (EBA)—the core base resin for the ultra-smooth, semi-conductive shielding materials used in 110kV and higher-voltage cables—has long been heavily dependent on imports. This reliance has served as a critical constraint on the development of new power systems and the safe, stable operation of the power grid.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" explicitly calls for accelerating the construction of a new power system and comprehensively enhancing the safety and stability of power system operations—a mandate that places higher demands on the domestic supply and quality upgrading of core materials for high-voltage power transmission. Statistics indicate that my country’s annual demand for 110kV/220kV high-voltage cables exceeds 15,000 kilometers, requiring over 20,000 tons of ultra-smooth, semi-conductive shielding material—a market with vast potential and significant strategic value. As a key domestic supplier in the high-end polyolefin sector, Hongjing New Materials has proactively risen to the challenge. Leveraging its integrated raw material supply chain and deep technical expertise, the company has established a comprehensive innovation system—spanning R&D, pilot testing, and industrial-scale production—thereby laying a robust foundation for the successful execution of the EBA development project.
Following a period of technical groundwork, the company has completed small-scale pilot research on EBA (ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymer), mastered key synthesis processes, and established the necessary conditions for intermediate-scale pilot production. Simultaneously, the company is accelerating the construction of a 50,000-ton-per-year production facility for high-end copolymer materials—including EBA—aiming to ensure that its EBA products achieve world-class performance in critical areas such as resistivity stability and surface finish. Backed by a highly qualified R&D team with extensive experience in executing national-level research projects, the company possesses the robust capabilities required for large-scale EBA production and the consistent supply of high-quality material, providing comprehensive assurance for the successful completion of this "open-call" (challenge-based) project. Once implemented, the results of this project will break foreign technological monopolies, significantly mitigate supply chain risks, shorten lead times, and reduce overall costs. This will facilitate the quality upgrading of my country’s high-voltage cable industry, drive synergistic development across the upstream and downstream sectors, and fortify the material foundation essential for the safe operation of the power system.
With a spirit of innovation and a drive to excel, Shenghong Petrochemical will use this selection as a new starting point. The company remains committed to an innovation-driven development strategy, focusing resources on overcoming critical core technical challenges and accelerating the industrialization of EBA. Shenghong Petrochemical will continue its pursuit of becoming a leader in high-end polymer material innovation, contributing even more significantly to safeguarding national energy security and building a nation that excels in advanced materials.
