Empowering high-quality development of energy and electricity with AI

The China Electricity Council held the "July 26th Electricity Theme Day" in 2026, and Xin Bao'an delivered a speech. The report shows that by 2025, China will add 550 million kilowatts of new power generation capacity, with wind and solar power accounting for nearly 80% of the total. The low-carbon transformation has achieved outstanding results. He proposed that the development stage of new energy needs to rely on AI to improve the new power system, and the integration of artificial intelligence is the key to cultivating new quality productivity of electricity, ensuring energy security, and achieving dual carbon. As the starting year of the 15th Five Year Plan, 2026 will seize the opportunity of computing and electronics collaboration, and deepen the integration of digital and intelligent technology with the power industry.Editor/Gong Ziwei

Almaty, Kazakhstan increases construction of urban rail transit

Almaty plans to build its first LRV light rail and a second subway, with the second subway connecting the city center and the airport. The second subway line in Central Asia, Line A, which was put into operation in 2011, uses Korean wide gauge trains. Astana LRT in Kazakhstan is the first light rail in Central Asia, which applies Chinese standards and equipment throughout the entire journey. The train is supplied by CRRC China.Editor/Gong Ziwei

The China Europe freight train welcomes a new layout of upgraded development

On July 28, 2026, the National Development and Reform Commission announced at a special press conference that China will promote the high-quality development of the China Europe freight train during the 15th Five Year Plan period. At that time, transportation organization will be optimized, customs clearance convenience and time stability will be improved, the coverage of the entire timetable and train will be expanded, and the collection and distribution system will be improved. At the same time, we will coordinate multimodal transportation, open up new routes, deepen cooperation with countries along the route, promote infrastructure connectivity, port upgrades, and mutual recognition of relevant rules and standards, and build a strong resilience of train transportation channels.Editor/Gong Ziwei

Announcement of Environmental Impact Assessment for Datang Photovoltaic Project

On July 24, 2026, the Zhangzhou Ecological Environment Bureau announced the environmental impact assessment approval opinions for the Datang Zhangpu 51.9MW fishery photovoltaic complementary photovoltaic project, with a total investment of 281 million yuan. It is expected to start construction in August 2026 with a construction period of 18 months.Editor/Gao Xue

Datang launches bidding for 500MW photovoltaic in Laos

On July 27, 2026, Datang Group issued a bidding announcement for the EPC general contracting of the Laos Namo 500MW photovoltaic project, with a construction period from September 2026 to September 2027 and a bidding deadline of September 1, 2026.Editor/Gao Xue

The China Europe freight train has exceeded 130000 trains in operation

As of June 2026, the total number of China Europe freight trains has exceeded 130000, with a value of over 520 billion US dollars, and a heavy container rate of 100% for 46 consecutive months. On July 28, 2026, the National Development and Reform Commission disclosed the above data at a special press conference, stating that the ratio of return trips to outbound trips is close to 1:1, and the operating structure is becoming more balanced.Editor/Gao Xue

Gansu photovoltaic fast charging and swapping station starts construction

Recently, the green power direct connection project of the 62MW photovoltaic fast charging and swapping station of Ward New Energy officially started construction in the Heishan Lake area of Jiayuguan. The total investment of the project is about 450 million yuan, with the construction of a 62MW centralized Gobi photovoltaic power station, supporting energy storage system and electric heavy-duty truck fast charging and swapping power station complex, and the simultaneous construction of dedicated transmission lines and other ancillary facilities.Editor/Cheng Liting

Mount Huangshan Tourism Line T1 Vehicle Base Starts

On July 25, 2026, the vehicle base of Mount Huangshan Tourism Line T1 Phase I Project will be officially started, and will be constructed by Shijiazhuang Company of China Railway No.6 Engineering Group Co., Ltd. The base covers an area of 167700 square meters and is adjacent to Mount Huangshan North Station of high-speed railway. After completion, it will include 13 single buildings, including operation depot, maintenance depot and complex building, with a total construction area of 68000 square meters and equipped with intelligent operation and maintenance system. Editor/Cheng Liting

Fansoft Software headquarters and R&D center start construction in Wuxi

The headquarters and R&D center project of Fanruan Software recently started construction in Xidong New City, Wuxi, with a total investment of 1 billion yuan and a total construction area of 44000 square meters. It will build a highly reliable data intelligent system laboratory and an industry education integration base. Fansoft is a leading enterprise in the field of business intelligence and data analysis in China, with the highest domestic BI market share for 8 consecutive years. It serves over 43000 enterprise customers and covers more than 10 countries and regions worldwide. The project adopts the Jiangnan garden style architectural design, which combines the functions of enterprise headquarters and cultural tourism experience, driving the gathering of upstream and downstream digital economy enterprises. Editor/Cheng Liting

CATL West Country Joint Venture Battery Factory Plan Approved

On July 27, 2026, the autonomous region of Aragon in Spain approved the overall plan for a joint venture battery factory between CATL and Strantis. The 4.1 billion euro project will land in Zaragoza, with a production capacity of 50GWh and the potential to create 4000 jobs. The factory covers an area of 367000 square meters, and the funds are mostly used for infrastructure and production equipment. Due to the lag in visa and accommodation facilities for foreign personnel, the factory's production will be postponed from the end of 2026 to early 2027. A large number of Chinese technical personnel are required for construction, and the local authorities are promoting the planning of temporary dormitories to ensure construction.Editor/Gong Ziwei

The construction of the Jiatong Railway mainline has come to a successful conclusion

On July 25, 2026, the Tongjiang Extra Large Bridge of Heilongjiang Jiatong Railway completed all beam erection work, and the main project was successfully completed, marking the end of the construction of the main line of Jiatong Railway. The bridge has a total length of over 10 kilometers and is the longest newly-built bridge in the China Europe East Passage port section. As the core control project of the entire line, the bridge will greatly enhance the traffic capacity of Tongjiang Port and increase the freight capacity by more than three times after it is put into operation. The project adopts a bridge instead of road scheme to adapt to frozen soil environment, save black soil resources, and assist in the transportation of bulk commodities for foreign trade at the port.Editor/Gong Ziwei

Gansu power grid continuously breaks three records for wind and solar energy storage

Recently, State Grid Gansu Electric Power coordinated the resources of the entire network and reported another breakthrough during the critical period of ensuring supply during the peak summer season. At 20:12 on July 23, 2026, during the peak electricity consumption period in the evening, the maximum discharge power of energy storage in Gansu power grid reached 5.12 million kilowatts, setting a new historical high; At 11:57 on July 24th, the real-time output of new energy in Gansu power grid surged to 28.47 million kilowatts, setting a new historical high; At 12:04 on July 24th, the maximum charging power of energy storage climbed to 6.23 million kilowatts, setting a new historical high; The three key indicators of energy storage, charging and discharging, and new energy output have reached a historic high within 24 hours.Editor/Gong Ziwei

China's wind, solar and photovoltaic installed capacity surpasses thermal power

Recently, the "2026 Energy Industry Ecological Report" was officially released. The report shows that during the 14th Five Year Plan period, China's wind, solar, and photovoltaic installed capacity historically surpassed thermal power, while nuclear and biomass energy fields led the world. The installed capacity of wind, solar and photovoltaic power will increase from 530 million kilowatts to 1.84 billion kilowatts from 2020 to 2025. The total installed capacity of nuclear power operation ranks first in the world, and the installed capacity of biomass power generation has been ranked first in the world for seven consecutive years. Editor/Cheng Liting

Shanghai Port breaks record for single voyage cargo vehicle loading volume

Two Chinese made ten thousand car class car roll on/roll off ships, the Panamanian Grovis Navigator and the Maltese Grovis Nova, are simultaneously docked at Shanghai Nangang Port, setting sail overseas to transport domestically produced vehicles. Among them, the newly delivered Grovis Nova has completed the loading operation of 7738 new energy vehicles, setting a new record for the number of commercial vehicles loaded on a single voyage at domestic ports. Editor/Cheng Liting

33000 water conservancy projects implemented nationwide in six months

Since 2026, China has made every effort to accelerate the construction of modern water networks, and investment in water conservancy construction has continued to maintain a high level, with an overall good start. From January to June, 33000 water conservancy projects were implemented nationwide, with a total investment of 515.1 billion yuan in water conservancy construction. Editor/Cheng Liting

Urumqi Water Conveyance Project EPC Awarded to Local Consortium

The dust has settled on the EPC section of the Ganquanbao Wulabo water transmission and lifting project, and Xinjiang Institute has led a consortium to win the bid with 4.114 billion yuan. The project has a construction period of 30 months, delivering 177 million cubic meters of water annually, constructing a dual channel of north to south water diversion, and optimizing the water resource pattern in Urumqi. Editor/Min Jing

Wuhan Baihushan LNG Base Finishes Tank Pile Foundation Work Despite Rainy Season Hurdles

Recently, the construction and testing of 304 storage tank pile foundations in the first phase of Wuhan Baihushan LNG storage and distribution base have been completed, with Class I piles accounting for 99%. The project developed a special plan for the rainy season to address the complex geological and rainfall impacts, successfully achieving key milestones and helping to strengthen the natural gas supply capacity in Central China. Editor/Min Jing

Shaanxi’s Xi’an-Ankang High-speed Railway Starts Full-line Test, One-Hour Travel Expected

Recently, the 55301 comprehensive inspection train has passed through the Xi'an Ankang high-speed railway, and the full line connection test has officially begun. The designed speed of the route is 350 kilometers per hour, and this test comprehensively verifies various facilities along the entire line. After the project is opened, the travel time between the two places will be reduced to within one hour, promoting the coordinated development of Guanzhong and southern Shaanxi. Editor/Min Jing

The cumulative freight volume of the Inner Mongolia Railway has exceeded 50 million tons

On July 26, 2026, the freight volume of Mombasa Nairobi Railway, a landmark project jointly built by China and Kenya along the the Belt and Road, will exceed 50 million tons in total. The railway has been open for freight transportation since 2018, and its transportation categories continue to expand, effectively promoting the connectivity between Kenyan ports and inland areas.Editor/Gao Xue

The Western Land Sea New Corridor has surpassed 500 billion

From January to June 2026, the total import and export volume of 13 provinces, regions, and cities along the Western Land Sea New Corridor reached 517.23 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13%, and exceeded 500 billion yuan for the first time in history during the same period. The channel is centered around Chongqing and extends southward through Guangxi and Yunnan to reach the world.Editor/Gao Xue

Tajikistan invites China to invest in the construction of industrial parks

On July 27, 2026, Ahmadzada, Chairman of the Sogde region of Tajikistan, met with Song Qian, Chairman of China Antai Information Technology Co., Ltd. The two sides discussed the establishment of a mining and metallurgical industrial park in the Sogde region. The Chinese side has sent a delegation to conduct on-site inspections from July 12th to 18th this year. The construction of the park will introduce advanced technology, create employment, and enhance export potential.Editor/Gao Xue

Two major projects in Henan Province have announced the candidates for winning bids

Two major projects in Henan Province have announced their bidding candidates, and the second round of bidding for the 200MW independent energy storage power station in Junxian County has been shortlisted by three consortia. The consortium of China Energy Engineering Xinjiang Institute has quoted nearly 800 million yuan, ranking first; The 6 billion yuan Aotou bauxite mining project in Ruzhou has been awarded multiple sections, with China Railway and China Construction Group, as well as several central and local construction enterprises, winning first place in each section. The mining area has a reserve of 5 to 6 million tons and covers an area of 6.03 square kilometers.Editor/Gong Ziwei

Chinese made air taxis land in Kazakhstan

On July 24, 2026, Shanghai Fengfei Aviation's self-developed large electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft completed its maiden flight in Astana, Kazakhstan, as a supporting event for the 3rd Future Games. The unmanned demonstration flight had a maximum speed and range of 200 kilometers per hour. Kazakhstan has introduced regulations related to low altitude economy to regulate the development of eVTOL industry. The company plans to expand its logistics, rescue, cultural tourism and other applications in Central Asia by using Kazakhstan as its first stop. The aircraft will also be publicly exhibited on July 29-30, 2026.Editor/Gong Ziwei

$210 million logistics hub landing in Kazakhstan

On July 24, 2026, the foundation of the multimodal dry port logistics park was laid in Bakhti Village, Abay District, Kazakhstan. The project has an investment of 210 million US dollars and will be constructed from 2026 to 2028. It is the third railway port between Kazakhstan and China, with an annual designed container throughput of one million TEUs, 200 new positions, supporting docks, bonded warehouses, and employee facilities. It can increase the annual freight volume by 20 to 25 million tons and divert the existing port capacity. 41 investment projects are planned for 2026 in the local area, with copper processing plants starting construction during the same period, and plans to land in special economic zones.Editor/Gong Ziwei

In June, the scale of intelligent computing power in China reached 2185EFLOPS

As of the end of June 2026, the scale of China's intelligent computing power has reached 2185 EFLOPS, a year-on-year increase of 177%. The overall deployment rate of computing facilities in the country is 71.4%, and 52 intelligent computing facilities with a capacity of over 10000 calories have been built. The proportion of intelligent computing scale in the eastern, central, western, and northeastern regions is 55.9%, 10.6%, 32.6%, and 0.9%, respectively. Over the past two years, more than 70 computing power channels have been built around hub nodes, resulting in a 10% improvement in network performance.Editor/Cheng Liting

Croatia's 1GW data center approved for access

On July 24, 2026, the Croatian transmission system operator HOPS officially approved the 1GW grid access plan for the Pantheon AI data center, and the project entered the stage of signing the power supply agreement. This data center located in Topsko is jointly built by the American company Pantheon Atlas and the local Kon č ar Group, with a total investment of 50 billion euros. It is planned to start construction in 2027 and be put into operation in 2029. The project will support the construction of a new 400kV substation and 280 kilometers of transmission lines, with an investment of over 500 million euros. After completion, it will be handed over to the Croatian government. Editor/Cheng Liting

Lanxi Hub Port Railway Dedicated Line put into operation

On July 24, 2026, the first dedicated train carrying 250 zero run new energy vehicles departed from Lanxi Hub Port, marking the official operation of the railway dedicated line in the port and the entry of Lanxi Port into a new stage of railway public water intermodal transportation. The total investment of the project is 2.56 billion yuan, with a planned 20 berths and an annual throughput of 10.8 million tons. The investment for the railway dedicated line is 1.39 billion yuan, and it will be connected to the national railway network. Zero Run is expected to ship 650000 units in the Jinhua region by 2026, with railway transportation increasing from 30000 to 100000 units, saving logistics costs of over one million yuan annually. Railway transportation shortens the time by 3 days compared to inland waterway transportation and reduces the cost by 10% -15% compared to road transportation. Editor/Cheng Liting

China and Kazakhstan Eye Cross-border Non-ferrous Metal Joint Development

During the Astana China Kazakhstan Nonferrous Metals Sustainable Development Forum, Kazakh scholars proposed joint development of cross-border mineral resources, relying on shared infrastructure to reduce costs and increase efficiency. At the same time, it is proposed to establish a mining research cooperation platform to promote the upgrading of non-ferrous metal cooperation between the two countries towards full industry chain synergy. Editor/Min Jing

World’s First PV-equipped PCTC Delivered

GSI remotely delivered the world's first 10000 vehicle class LNG dual fuel vehicle transport ship equipped with photovoltaic systems to a South Korean company. The ship was completed over 200 days ahead of schedule, innovatively integrating photovoltaic power supply and LNG power to help reduce emissions in shipping and provide a new technological solution for the development of green ocean going ships. Editor/Min Jing

Bids Awarded for Xinjiang Pumped Storage Scheme in Northern Xinjiang

The first million kilowatt level Emin pumped storage power station in northern Xinjiang has two core bidding announcements, with a total investment of 10.526 billion yuan and an installed capacity of 1.4 million kilowatts. The project will enhance the power grid regulation capability and promote the efficient utilization of regional wind and solar resources. Editor/Min Jing