A list of "Top 10 Mega-projects of China's central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in 2023" has been released by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.
1. High-confinement mode operation of new-generation controllable nuclear fusion facility
Huanliu-3 (HL-3), China's new-generation artificial sun, realized operation under a plasma current of 1 million amperes on Aug 25, 2023.
The operation marked breakthroughs in various key technologies like high-confinement operation control of plasma under large current and a high-power heating system.
It is an important milestone in the country's development of nuclear fusion energy and a key step in the study of magnetic confinement of nuclear fusion as a step towards the operation of high-performance fusion plasma.
A view of Huanliu-3 (HL-3), China's new-generation artificial sun [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
2. Launch of Shenzhou XVII manned spaceship
The Shenzhou XVII manned spaceship, carrying crew members Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin, was launched on Oct 26, 2023. During their stay at the space station, the crew will carry out several extravehicular activities and conduct scientific experiments in the fields of basic physics of microgravity, space materials sciences, space life science, space medicine and space technologies while conducting missions like equipment installation, adjustment and maintenance.
The Shenzhou XVII manned spaceship, carrying crew members Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, is launched on Oct 26, 2023. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
A view of China's space station [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
3. Launch of 1-million-ton ethylene project in Luoyang, Henan
The 1-million-metric-ton ethylene project, also known as the green petrochemical advanced material industrial base, broke ground in Luoyang, Central China's Henan Province on May 27, 2023.
Developed by China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group), the project has a total investment of 27.8 billion yuan ($3.89 billion) and is expected to sell about 3 million tons of various kinds of chemical products annually when it starts operation.
A ceremony is held on May 27, 2023, to mark the beginning of the construction of the 1-million-metric-ton ethylene project, also known as the green petrochemical advanced material industrial base, in Luoyang, Central China's Henan Province. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
4. Operation of a new 100-million-ton offshore oilfield in China
Kenli-6-1, a 100-million-ton offshore oilfield developed by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), was ready for operation on Sept 24, 2023.
At present, the daily output of the oilfield has reached nearly 10,000 cubic meters. Each of the nine drilling platforms, with 177 wells in total, can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 10,000 tons per year.
Its smart and standardized construction has set a model for future oil and gas field development.
A view of the 100-million-ton Kenli-6-1 offshore oilfield developed by China National Offshore Oil Corporation [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
5. Completion of new power grid in Guangdong
The main components of a power grid in South China's Guangdong Province were completed and began service on Oct 29, 2023.
A view of the power grid newly built in Guangdong [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The power grid is expected to improve connectivity of the power infrastructure within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Its operation increased power supply of the Greater Bay Area by 80 percent and guaranteed economic and social development of Guangdong.
Meanwhile, the project will meet development demands of coastal nuclear power and offshore wind power generation and contribute to building a world-level bay area power grid with the greatest ratio in clean power consumption.
A bird's-eye view of a power station connecting the power grid in Guangdong [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
6. World's first commercial service supporting two-way connection between consumer-grade 5G terminals and satellites launched
The world's first commercial service supporting two-way connection between consumer-grade 5G terminals and satellites was released in September 2023.
The service was led by China Telecom Corporation Limited (China Telecom) based on optimization of the satellite system and satellite-Earth internet integration.
It will provide communication for emergencies and the transportation, nautical service, aviation and mining industries as well as for mass users.
The launch of the service also enables development of related industrial chains.
The world's first commercial service supporting two-way connection between consumer-grade 5G terminals and satellites is launched in September 2023. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
7. Construction of China's largest intelligent computing center launched by operators starts
The intelligent computing center in Hohhot, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, affiliated to China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd. (China Mobile), broke ground in June 2023.
With a total investment of more than 2 billion yuan, the center is expected to have a computing capacity of 5.5 EFLOPS, making it the largest individual computing center affiliated to an operator.
Based on the center, China Mobile plans to build an artificial intelligence (AI) platform, contributing to a model that integrates and shares industrial basic software and hardware and algorithms. The new model is expected to encourage AI innovation and promote development of China's AI industrial chain.
A view of the site for construction of China's largest intelligent computing center in Hohhot, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
8. Open of Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway
The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia opened for service on Sept 7, 2023, shortening the travel time between the terminals to 40 minutes.
A result of cooperation of China and Indonesia under the frame work of the Belt and Road Initiative, the railway was jointly designed and built by many Chinese central SOEs, adopted Chinese technologies and was built to Chinese standards.
It is not only the first high-speed railway in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, but also a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia's vision of the Global Maritime Fulcrum.
A train operates on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia opens for service on Sept 7. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
9. Completion of main line of Shenzhen-Zhongshan bridge in South China
Construction of the main line of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan bridge in South China was completed with construction of its cross-sea underwater tunnel on Nov 28, 2023. It is the world's longest and widest immersed steel pipe tunnel.
With a total length of 24 kilometers, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan bridge is an integral cross-sea project that includes bridges, islands and tunnels.
Many central SOEs contributed to the world's most difficult-to-build cross-sea project.
A view of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan bridge in South China [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
10. Commercial operation of the first Hualong One nuclear power generator unit in West China
The No. 3 generator unit at the Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was put into operation on March 25, 2023. It is the first Hualong One nuclear power generator unit in West China.
The Fangchenggang nuclear power project is the first of its kind built in the western region as well as in an area inhabited by ethnic groups in China.
It is designed to be equipped with six 1-million-kilowatt nuclear power units. The first phase of the project started operation in 2016 and has generated more than 100 billion kilowatt-hours of clean power. The second phase includes two Hualong One technology-based generator units, each of which is expected to generate nearly 10 billion kWh of power annually.
The FirmSys independently developed by China General Nuclear Power Corporation was used in a Hualong One generator unit for the first time and passed the cold and hot tests, as well as the loading and grid connection tests.
The operation of the generator unit verifies the good integration of China's third-generation nuclear power technology and its advanced nuclear power instrument and control equipment.
A view of the No. 3 generator unit at the Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
