First LNG station in mid‑upper Yangtze makes strong start
2026-02-11 23:02:22
By Chen Zai
Hubei Zhongyi LNG Refueling Station, the first LNG bunkering site in the mid‑upper Yangtze River, saw its January 2026 volume surge 364 percent year-on-year to 503.5 tons, marking a strong start to the year for new‑energy bunkering.
Hubei Zhongyi LNG Refueling Station, the first LNG bunkering site in the mid‑upper Yangtze River, saw its January 2026 volume surge 364 percent year-on-year to 503.5 tons, marking a strong start to the year for new‑energy bunkering.
Hubei Zhongyi LNG Refueling Station, the first marine LNG bunkering site in the mid‑upper Yangtze
Located in Zigui, Yichang, the station opened in April 2023 as a Ministry of Transport pilot project and a key LNG bunkering hub for the upper Yangtze River. In addition to supplying clean fuel, it now provides waste collection, shuttle services, procurement assistance, and parcel handling, evolving into a multifunctional service hub for energy, environmental protection, and general support services.
The growth in LNG bunkering highlights the Yangtze River’s accelerating transition to greener shipping. By late 2025, 202 new‑energy vessels were in operation along the main stem of the Yangtze River and 476 more were being built, including 417 LNG‑powered, 42 electric, and 17 methanol-fueled ships.
The operator expects the station’s LNG bunkering volume to exceed 10,000 tons in 2026 as green development along the Yangtze continues.
Reporter Wang Ying, Correspondents Huang Liu and Liu Guanhai contributed to this story.
