15th Five-Year Plan for Oil and Gas Development: Promoting Green Hydrogen Industry Development and Accelerating Large-Scale Production, Pipeline Transport, and Intensive Storage Systems

BEIJING — On August 17^th, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and National Energy Administration (NEA) jointly issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for Oil and Natural Gas Development.

The Plan highlights promoting the development of the green hydrogen industry. It calls for synergizing with existing oil and gas infrastructure layouts to accelerate the construction of large-scale hydrogen production, pipeline transportation, and intensive storage systems. It also emphasizes the orderly deployment of hydrogen infrastructure in key regions to establish a new supply-and-demand pattern—driven primarily by local nearby consumption, with cross-regional transport and foreign trade as secondary channels.

Additional hydrogen-related measures included in the Plan:

Building an Unified National Infrastructure Network: Grounded in China's oil and gas supply-demand dynamics, the plan coordinates international and domestic resources, provincial-interprovincial planning, and new trunk line construction with provincial network integration. By merging oil and gas transport with hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol storage and transport systems, China aims to build a "Unified National Network" that is moderately forward-looking, cost-effective, regionally balanced, interconnected, green, low-carbon, safe, and stable—providing solid infrastructure support for the high-quality development of oil, gas, and green fuels.

Coordinating Pipeline Layouts for Emerging Energy Sectors: Accelerating the construction of the Ulanqab–Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei hydrogen pipeline while simultaneously refining technical standards and specifications for pure hydrogen pipelines. Exploring the use of underutilized refined oil pipelines (such as Fushun-Jinzhou, Jinzhou-Zhengzhou, Lanzhou-Zhengzhou-Changsha, and Urumqi-Lanzhou lines) to transport methanol. Supporting pipeline operators, industrial power generators, and other downstream users in conducting pilot projects for hydrogen-blended natural gas transport and combustion, within relevant safety standards and premises.

Advancing Underground Storage: Accelerating the evaluation and implementation of offshore underground gas storage facilities while exploring underground storage solutions for emerging sectors, including hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

Infrastructure Technological R&D: Focusing on key technical constrains in intelligent pipeline construction and inspection, pipeline network simulation, and operational optimization. Driving the digitalization and intelligent transformation of the industry through R&D in intelligent design, regulation, and digital twin technology for pipelines and compressor stations. Accelerating core technological breakthroughs in high-pressure pure hydrogen pipeline materials and safe transport, large-scale hydrogen blending/repurposing existing lines, aquifer gas storage, deep underground hydrogen storage, multi-medium transport (such as methanol and liquid ammonia), and CCS/CCUS technologies.