From August 26 to 28, 2026, the 2026 (14th) Coal Chemical Industry Development Conference was held in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Fu Xiangsheng, Vice President of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF), delivered a keynote speech titled "New Requirements and Challenges, New Positioning and Opportunities: Ushering in a New Stage of High-Quality Development in the Coal Chemical Industry."

On August 10, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) released the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Coal Industry. The plan outlines that by 2030, coal’s role as a foundational energy guarantee will be further strengthened, and the production and development layout will be continuously optimized. The share of high-quality, advanced production capacity will continue to rise, the production-supply-storage-sales system will be further improved, and the proportion of output from large-scale, modernized coal mines nationwide will increase to 87%.Safety, green development, and clean, efficient utilization will see significant improvements. The comprehensive rollout of smart mining systems will accelerate, with the share of output from intelligent coal mines reaching 75%. A diversified, coal-based industrial structure will take shape more rapidly, and coal consumption is expected to peak. Mechanisms to ensure a dynamic balance between supply and demand will be further refined, and the industry’s modern governance capabilities will see a marked increase. A modern coal industry system will be basically established, taking high-quality development in the coal sector to a new level.

The petrochemical and chemical industry is a crucial foundational and pillar industry of the national economy, playing a vital role in stabilizing economic growth and ensuring the security of energy, industrial, and supply chains. To accelerate the renewal and retrofit of aging equipment in this industry, prevent and mitigate safety risks and hidden dangers, and promote high-quality development of the sector, this Action Plan is hereby formulated.

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, earnestly carry out the deployments of the Fourth Plenary Session, and practice the new energy security strategy to high standards. Driven by the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and focusing on optimizing the energy structure, improving energy efficiency, strengthening technological innovation, and refining policy support, we will integrate energy conservation and carbon reduction throughout all links of energy production, supply, storage, sales, and consumption. We will deepen energy conservation and carbon reduction in the fossil fuel industry, expand the scale of non-fossil energy substituting fossil energy, promote the peaking of coal and oil consumption, and provide strong support for the comprehensive green and low-carbon transformation of economic and social development.

On May 28, 2026, the Comprehensive Department of the National Energy Administration (NEA) issued the Notice on Organizing and Carrying Out Pilot Projects for High-Quality Development and Utilization of Geothermal Energy. The Notice states that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, through the construction of pilot projects for high-quality geothermal development and utilization, a relatively complete regional management and policy system for geothermal development and utilization will be established. A number of large-scale geothermal development and utilization projects featuring advanced technology, standardized management, and significant benefits will be built. Furthermore, typical technical routes and operational models for the development and utilization of shallow and medium-to-deep geothermal energy that can be replicated and promoted will be formed.

In-Depth Policy Interpretation of the Three-Year Action Plan for Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction Retrofits in Key Industries — Fagai Huanzi [2026] No. 698

Energy conservation and carbon reduction retrofits are crucial measures for improving the utilization efficiency of energy and resources and reducing carbon emissions, as well as strong support for expanding effective investment and promoting industrial upgrading. To deeply advance energy conservation and carbon reduction retrofits in key industries, intensify efforts, and strongly support the achievement of the "15th Five-Year Plan" energy conservation and carbon reduction targets and tasks, this Action Plan is hereby formulated.

On April 22, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council released the Opinions on Doing a Better Job in Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction at a Higher Level and with Higher Quality

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the National Energy Administration and other four departments jointly issued the "Implementation Plan for the High-quality ...

On March 13, the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the "15th Five-Year Plan") was officially released. Chapter 7, Section 2 of the Plan clearly proposes to "strengthen the construction of new energy infrastructure",

This year's government work report has a series of eye-catching "first mentions" when deploying low-carbon green development and new energy construction.

The National Two Sessions were held as scheduled at the key node of the successful conclusion of the "14th Five-Year Plan" and the "15th Five-Year Plan" set sail. The draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan makes green and low-carbon an important part of special deployment.