As the number of new energy vehicles on the road continues to climb, the volume of spent power batteries is set to surge in tandem, with projections indicating the nation will face its first major wave of battery retirements during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. Addressing how to transform these retired batteries into valuable resources, Zeng Jiming, Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Economy and Information Technology, shared the province's strategy during a press conference for the 2026 World Power Battery Conference held on August 20. This challenge, he noted, has been a focal point of the department's research in recent years.

On the regulatory front, Sichuan has taken a pioneering role. In April of last year, the province issued the country's first interim measures for the management of recycling and reusing retired power batteries from new energy vehicles, establishing a top-level framework for regulating these activities. This year, the province has joined forces with relevant provincial departments to launch special enforcement actions targeting the illegal disposal of batteries. According to Zeng, once risk alerts are flagged on the national traceability platform, working groups are dispatched immediately for on-site verification, with any confirmed issues being transferred or reported to the relevant authorities for further action. This continuous oversight is aimed at maintaining order within the industry.

Turning to industrial growth, Sichuan began pioneering the establishment of regional centers for power battery recycling and reuse last year. After more than a year of development, the province officially unveiled its first batch of five regional center construction lists in June. At present, the provincial department is guiding the lead enterprises of these centers to accelerate the refinement of all recycling and reuse functions. By fostering collaboration among upstream and downstream companies, the initiative seeks to promote resource sharing and complementary advantages, ultimately achieving a full lifecycle loop where retired power batteries are "reborn" within the regional centers. Looking ahead, the department plans to upgrade regulations, intensify policy support, and strengthen law enforcement to clear the final hurdles in the power battery industry, ensuring the supply chain operates smoothly and circularly while laying a more solid groundwork for its sustainable growth.

In terms of regulatory upgrades, while the interim measures have proven effective, their binding force is limited as a normative document. To bolster oversight, Sichuan is working to elevate these measures into local government regulations, incorporating mandatory and punitive clauses in line with the latest national requirements. This initiative has already been included in the provincial government's 2026 legislative plan. Regarding enhanced support, the province will leverage provincial industrial development funds and advanced manufacturing funds to nurture a cohort of capable backbone enterprises. Additionally, through a two-way "open competition" mechanism, the province aims to drive the widespread adoption of technologies such as rapid intelligent assessment and smart, precise dismantling, making technology a solid pillar for industrial upgrading. On the enforcement front, any illegal or non-compliant activities in the recycling process will be strictly dealt with in accordance with the law, with thorough investigations and public exposure carried out without exception. Through this combination of stringent oversight and transparency, Sichuan seeks to further standardize the order of the recycling and reuse industry for retired power batteries from new energy vehicles.