China Releases '15th Five-Year Plan' for Oil and Natural Gas Development
On 17 August, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration released the '15th Five-Year Plan' for Oil and Natural Gas Development. The plan sets targets for 2030, including a national oil and gas long-distance pipeline network of 220,000 km, natural gas reserves exceeding 13% of consumption, LNG terminal receiving capacity of 200 million tpy, and onshore pipeline gas import capacity of 114 billion cubic meters per year. It also promotes coal-to-gas strategic bases in Ordos, Yulin, Zhundong and Hami, integration of gas with renewables, and improvement of gas pricing linkage mechanisms.
Khorgos Compressor Station Surpasses 600 Billion Cubic Meters of Cumulative Gas Throughput
On 22 August, PipeChina announced that the Khorgos compressor station, the first station of West-East Gas Pipelines II and III, has surpassed 600 billion cubic meters of cumulative gas throughput. With an annual transmission capacity of 60 billion cubic meters and the largest single-station installed capacity in Asia, the station has operated safely for over 6,000 days since commissioning in 2009, serving more than 500 million people. As a key hub of the West-East Gas Pipeline, it supports Central Asian gas imports and natural gas supply to eastern China.
PetroChina's Xilaifeng LNG Plant Begins Production
On 18 August, the Wuhai Huayou Xilaifeng LNG plant completed its technical upgrade and formally began production, marking a key step in PetroChina's asset revitalization and industrial upgrading. The upgrade switched the feedstock from coke oven gas to pipeline natural gas, adding new compression, purification and cold box units while renovating core equipment. Once fully operational, the plant will process 1.2 million cubic meters of natural gas per day and produce about 250,000 tonnes of LNG per year, becoming a stable LNG production base in western Inner Mongolia.
SK Shipping and H-Line Asset Swap to Create Asia's Largest LNG Carrier Operator
SK Shipping and H-Line Shipping, both owned by South Korean private equity firm Hahn & Co., have agreed an asset swap under which SK Shipping will receive 16 LNG vessels and related long-term contracts from H-Line in exchange for 12 tankers, long-term contracts and approximately US$300 million in cash. After the transaction, SK Shipping will operate 32 LNG carriers and 14 LPG vessels, becoming the world's third-largest LNG carrier operator, and plans to rebrand as K-LNG. H-Line will focus on tanker and bulk shipping operations.
First Nations to Lead Canada's Kino Aski LNG Project
Kino Aski Inc. and Marinvest Energy Canada have announced the joint development of Kino Aski LNG, a First Nations-led energy corridor and LNG project. Led by the Atikamekw Nation, Kino Aski Inc. holds a majority ownership interest in the project company. The project is designed to deliver up to 15 million tpy of LNG powered by renewable electricity in Quebec, with natural gas sourced from Western Canada and transported to the Port of Baie-Comeau for shipment to Europe. It aims to supply Europe with certified low-methane Canadian natural gas.
Tanzania Signs Gas Sales Agreement for First Small-Scale LNG Facility
Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp. (TPDC), TAQA Arabia and Africa50 have signed a gas sales agreement for East Africa LNG, the venture developing Tanzania's first small-scale LNG facility. TPDC will serve as both gas supplier and equity partner, with the facility serving industrial, residential and transportation customers. The GSA is a key commercial milestone towards a final investment decision, with commercial operations targeted to begin in 2027. The facility will liquefy domestic natural gas for distribution by specialized vehicles, replacing more costly and carbon-intensive fuels.
Summit LNG Supplies Up to 550 Million ft3/d to Bangladesh Gas Grid
Summit LNG Terminal started sending out regasified LNG to Bangladesh's national gas grid on 14 August upon the arrival of an LNG carrier at Moheshkhali, initially supplying approximately 110 million ft3/d and reaching full capacity of 550 million ft3/d by 15 August. The increased supply is expected to improve gas availability for industries, power generation and other consumers, reducing pressure on the country's energy system. Summit LNG will continue working with Petrobangla and the Government of Bangladesh to support national energy security.
Tianshui Quxi Urban-Rural Water Supply Project Dam Topped Out
On 17 August, the roller-compacted concrete gravity dam of the Tianshui Quxi urban-rural water supply project, built by PowerChina Hydro Bureau 3, was fully topped out, completing the main dam concrete works. The project, a key provincial project of Gansu, consists of a river control hub and a water diversion system, with a maximum dam height of 80 meters and a designed total storage capacity of 77.82 million cubic meters. Once completed, it will supply 49.28 million cubic meters of water annually to the Qinzhou and Maiji districts, easing water supply pressure in Tianshui city.
Guangzhou Huadu Completes First Batch of Sewage Pipeline Upgrade Works
The first batch of sewage pipeline upgrade works in Huadu District, Guangzhou, has been completed and put into service, benefiting more than 100,000 residents. The project systematically renewed ageing sewage networks in the district, improving wastewater collection and flood drainage capacity and enhancing regional water environment quality. It is an important livelihood project in Guangzhou's drive to upgrade drainage infrastructure and safeguard urban water security.
PowerChina Subsidiary Wins US$1.32 Billion Contract for Iraq's Basra Desalination Pipeline
China Water Resources & Hydropower Fifth Engineering Bureau, a PowerChina subsidiary, has been awarded a contract by Iraq's Al-Ridha Group to build the water transmission system for the Basra Seawater Desalination Project, valued at approximately US$1.32 billion (RMB 8.925 billion). The project will design and build a water transmission system with a capacity of 1 million cubic meters per day, including around 240 km of transmission pipeline, one main pumping station and nine receiving pumping stations. Iraqi officials have described the Basra desalination development as one of the largest projects of its kind globally.
Valley Water Awards US$1.88 Billion Contract to Rebuild Anderson Dam
Valley Water, the Santa Clara County water agency in California, has awarded a US$1.88 billion construction contract to the Flatiron Dragados Sukut ADSRP Joint Venture for the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project. The total project cost is about US$2.8 billion, with construction expected to take about seven years beginning in early 2027. Crews will rebuild most of the dam and spillway, install new outlet pipes and complete major safety upgrades, restoring Anderson Reservoir to full operating capacity and improving water supply reliability and flood protection. Built in 1950, Anderson is the largest of Valley Water's 10 reservoirs.
Seoul to Invest US$434 Million in Overhauling Ageing Water Treatment Plants
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will spend 607.7 billion won (US$434.3 million) upgrading two of its oldest water treatment plants. The Gangbuk Water Purification Centre project, valued at 276.1 billion won, will add advanced filtration capable of treating a further 250,000 tons of water daily, lifting total capacity from 950,000 to 1.2 million tons by 2029. The Gwangam Water Purification Centre project, worth 331.6 billion won, will replace intake wells and sedimentation tanks that have run for 47 years and add 100,000 tons of advanced treatment capacity, due for completion in 2030. The upgrades will pull Seoul's average plant utilization down from 81% to about 74%.
Queensland to Invest AUD 545 Million in Dam Repairs to Boost Water Security
The Queensland Government has announced an AUD 545 million Dam Repair Plan, delivered by Seqwater, to restore the operating capacity of two South East Queensland dams over six years. North Pine Dam, currently at 54% of approved supply level, will return to full supply level after structural reinforcement, adding 99,404 megalitres. Lake Macdonald Dam, now at 39%, will return to 100% once a new dam wall is built, adding 4,891 megalitres. An additional AUD 10 million has been allocated to investigate a site for a new dam, and the programme also includes rebuilding Paradise Dam and adding new weirs.
Tasmania Completes AUD 218 Million Pipeline for Major Irrigation Scheme
The AUD 217.96 million pipeline network for Tasmania's Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme has been completed, spanning 152.4 kilometres. The first water deliveries are scheduled to begin in October 2026, with the first full irrigation season in summer 2026/27. The scheme will supply 25.5 billion litres of water per year to farms across Cressy, Epping Forrest, Campbell Town and Ross, covering thousands of hectares of agricultural land. Funding comes from the Australian Government (AUD 108.98 million), the Tasmanian Government (AUD 72.26 million) and irrigators through water entitlement purchases (AUD 36.72 million).