In the midst of the energy crisis, Beijing has ordered a drastic drop in automobile production. And for good reason, the raw material magnesium is extremely greedy in electricity.

Magnesium, essential for the automotive industry. This metal is essential to strengthen, lighten and protect the aluminum used in the automotive industry, but also to facilitate welding work. Pure magnesium or alloys are found in the gearboxes, around the airbags, in the steering, in the seats or even in the tank. But due to the energy crisis and the risk of power outages, local authorities have asked 35 out of 50 producers to cease their activity until the end of the year and the rest to reduce production by half in order to relieve the electrical network. The production of magnesium requires 35 to 40 megawatt hours of electricity to obtain a ton against 13.5 MWh for the manufacture of a ton of aluminum, a process itself already extremely energy-intensive.