SMM July 3 News: Metals Market: Overnight, base metals on both domestic and overseas markets showed mixed performance. SHFE lead led the gains with a 0.19% increase, SHFE copper rose 0.12%, LME lead rose 0.11%, and SHFE aluminum rose 0.09%. LME tin led the losses with a 0.91% drop, SHFE tin fell 0.85%, and declines in other metals were relatively small. The most-traded alumina contract fell 1.73%, while cast aluminum rose 0.67%. In the ferrous metals sector overnight, iron ore led the losses with a 1.34% drop, while rebar and HRC fell around 0.4%. As for coking coal and coke, coking coal rose 1.07%, and coke rose 1.15%. In precious metals overnight, all rose. COMEX gold rose 1.3%, and COMEX silver rose 1.54%. On the domestic market, SHFE gold rose 1.18%, and SHFE silver rose 1.53%. As of 6:38 am on July 3, overnight closing prices: Macro Front China: [National Energy Administration: Vigorously Promote the Exploration and Development of Deep Coalbed Methane] On July 1, the National Energy Administration held a special meeting on deep coalbed methane exploration and development in Beijing. The meeting pointed out that the core task is to ensure national energy security, vigorously promote the exploration and development of deep coalbed methane, and continuously consolidate the foundation of energy supply. The meeting emphasized the implementation of relevant plans. It called for the issuance and implementation of the "15th Five-Year Plan" for coalbed methane (coal mine gas) development and utilization, as well as action plans for increasing reserves and production in key regions, with tasks detailed to each enterprise and each coalbed methane block, increasing investment in exploration and development, and accelerating the construction of key projects. (National Energy Administration) [Liu Gang of the NDRC Led a Team to Conduct Work Research at Xiaomi Group] Liu Gang, Deputy Director of the Price Monitoring Center of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), led a team to conduct work research at Xiaomi Group. The research covered the price trends of NEVs and mobile phones, sought to understand the main issues facing the industry, and solicited opinions and suggestions on standardizing the automotive industry’s practices and promoting orderly competition. (NDRC Price Monitoring Center) US Dollar: As of the overnight close, the US dollar index fell 0.54% to 100.86. The US economy added 57,000 nonfarm payrolls in June, below Wall Street expectations. After three consecutive months of stronger-than-expected employment growth, the slowdown in June hiring prompted the market to lower expectations for further Fed rate hikes. Data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday showed that the 129,000 jobs added in June, revised down from May, represented a sharp decline, and was also below the 115,000 forecast by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. The report marked a significant cooling in the labour market following three months of better-than-expected job gains. While job growth decelerated, it remained well above the 2025 target of 10,000 new jobs per month on average. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.2% from 4.3% in May. The US dollar weakened as investors scaled back bets on further Fed rate hikes. Futures traders now expect the Fed to raise rates in December. Previously, the market had anticipated a rate hike in October. (Jin10 Data APP) A CICC research report stated that the US added 57,000 nonfarm payrolls in June, below market expectations, indicating that the acceleration in job growth has cooled. After downward revisions to previous months, the average job gains over the past three months still reached 111,000, suggesting that the labour market remains expansionary. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 4.2%, and the labour force participation rate continued to decline, reflecting steady labour demand alongside a shrinking labour supply, with overall unemployment pressure relatively low. We believe this data gives the Fed time to wait and watch, thus we maintain the view that there will be neither a rate hike nor a rate cut this year. In the medium term, the improvement in US employment this year is driven more by AI investment-led economic cycle repair rather than short-term factors like the World Cup. This means that if aggregate demand continues to expand under the boost of AI, the possibility of the Fed resuming rate hikes next year cannot be ruled out. (Jin10 Data APP) According to the CME FedWatch Tool: The probability that the Fed keeps interest rates unchanged in July is 82.4%, while the probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point rate hike is 17.6%. For the September meeting, the probability of rates staying unchanged is 46.8%, the probability of a cumulative 25-bp hike is 45.6%, and the probability of a cumulative 50-bp hike is 7.6%. (Jin10 Data APP) On the Macro Front: Today, data including China's June RatingDog Services PMI, French May industrial production month-on-month, the final June Services PMIs for France, Germany, the Eurozone, and the UK will be released. In addition, China will open a new round of price adjustment window for domestic refined oil products. ECB President Christine Lagarde will participate in an economic forum, and BOE Governor Andrew Bailey will speak on the coordination of fiscal and monetary policies. Notably, on July 3, US markets—NYSE will be closed for the US Independence Day holiday. CME will close trading in precious metals, energy, foreign exchange, US Treasury, and stock index futures contracts early at 01:00 Beijing time on July 4 for the Independence Day holiday. ICE will close Brent crude oil futures trading early at 01:30 Beijing time on July 4 for the Independence Day holiday. Crude Oil: Overnight, both oil benchmarks fell, with WTI crude down 0.17% and Brent crude down 0.01%, as buyers sought to secure supply ahead of the US Independence Day long weekend. Since Saudi Arabia resumed loading operations in the Persian Gulf, its crude oil exports have surged to roughly pre-war levels. This further indicates that regional producers' supply is recovering following the temporary peace agreement between the US and Iran. Bloomberg-compiled tanker tracking data showed that Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, averaged 6.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude exports in the six days through Wednesday. That export level is comparable to the 2025 average and has reached nearly 90% of the pre-war February level, when Saudi and its Gulf neighbours ramped up supply. (from Wallstreetcn APP) Since Saudi Arabia resumed tanker loading and unloading in the Persian Gulf, its crude oil exports have surged to near pre-war levels, further evidence that regional oil supply is recovering after the US-Iran temporary peace agreement. Bloomberg-compiled tanker tracking data showed that Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, shipped an average of 6.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in the six days through Wednesday. That shipping volume is roughly on par with the 2025 average and has reached nearly 90% of the February level. In February, before the Iran war broke out, Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbours had significantly increased oil supply. (Jin10 Data APP)

On June 30, 2026, the National Energy Administration issued the Guide to Data Classification and Grading for the Energy Industry (2026 Edition), under which hydrogen energy was officially classified as a first-level energy data category, positioned alongside traditional fossil fuels such as coal, crude oil, and natural gas. This marks the end of the domestic hydrogen industry's single demonstration phase and its full entry into a development cycle characterized by large-scale, standardized systems. This top-level data system adjustment reshapes hydrogen energy's national strategic positioning, and by leveraging a unified data management framework to link the entire chain of green hydrogen cost reduction, storage and transportation infrastructure, and diversified applications, the industry is expected to usher in a new expansion cycle. I. Policy Iteration: The Strategic Status of Hydrogen Energy Achieves a Hierarchical Leap (A) Core Basis for the Document's Issuance The Guide serves as a supporting detailed rule for the implementation of the Data Security Law and the Administrative Measures for Energy Industry Data Security (Trial), delineating a total of 12 first-level energy data categories, including coal, oil and gas, and hydrogen energy. For the first time, hydrogen energy has been incorporated into the basic energy data sequence, integrating the hydrogen energy industry into the national unified energy security regulatory system. (B) Policy Evolution Trajectory In 2022, the Medium and Long-Term Plan for the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035) legally affirmed the energy attribute of hydrogen energy for the first time, setting the goal of diversified commercial applications by 2035. With the implementation of this 2026 data classification document, hydrogen energy has completed its identity transition from a "demonstration and pilot industry" to a "national basic energy category." Industrial development has shifted from being driven purely by policy subsidies to a new phase where policy guidance, scenario validation, and market operations run in parallel. (C) Three Supporting Logics of the Top-Level Strategy Energy Security: Global geopolitical conflicts have intensified fluctuations in oil and gas imports. In 2025, China's dependence on foreign crude oil was 72.3%, and that on foreign natural gas was 43.8%. Hydrogen energy, produced from renewable resources such as wind, solar, and hydropower, can substantially reduce dependence on imported fossil energy while simultaneously fulfilling the carbon peaking and neutrality targets. Correction of Domestic Supply-Demand Mismatch: In 2024, China's total hydrogen production stood at 37.28 million mt, firmly ranking first in the world. Domestic planned green hydrogen capacity accounts for 52% of the global total planned green hydrogen capacity, yet the average annual operating rate of commissioned green hydrogen facilities is only 23.6%, with substantial electrolyzer capacity remaining idle. Unified data standards will compel the industry to shift from blindly expanding hydrogen production capacity toward demand-side development oriented to matching downstream consumption scenarios. Breakthrough in Global Hydrogen Competition: The EU will implement its Hydrogen Strategy Act in 2026, and the US allocates over $9 billion annually in hydrogen industry subsidies. Europe and the United States are accelerating their efforts to seize the discourse power in hydrogen standards and trade. By perfecting its local standard system through hydrogen energy data classification management, China aims to shore up its industrial digital shortcomings and enhance the international competitiveness of its hydrogen energy projects and equipment exports. II. Industrial Empowerment Value of the First-Level Hydrogen Data Classification System (A) Establishing a Bottom Line for Whole-Chain Data Compliance and Security The Guide uniformly categorizes all energy data into three control levels: general, important, and core, covering the entire process of hydrogen production, storage, transportation, refueling, and utilization. It specifies mandatory control rules: Geographic infrastructure data for hydrogen refueling stations, hydrogen production bases, and pipeline networks with coordinate accuracy ≤100 meters is classified as important data, with strict limits on external disclosure. Real-time operational control commands for water electrolysis hydrogen production units and sensor data from high-pressure storage and transportation equipment are classified as core data, with unencrypted external transmission prohibited. Electricity load data from wind- and solar-power integrated new energy plants supporting electrolytic hydrogen production is protected under a tiered scheme, with electricity consumption data from special-grade green electricity hydrogen projects implementing the highest protection standards. All enterprises are required to establish full-life-cycle data ledgers, mandatorily use commercial encryption technology, and simultaneously implement the protection requirements for Classified Protection of Cybersecurity 2.0 and critical information infrastructure, in order to avert risks such as the leakage of monitoring data from coal chemical and hydrogen plants or cyber attacks on industrial control systems. (B) Restoring Industry Investment Confidence and Reducing Uncertainty in Market-Oriented Development By year-end 2025, a total of 627 wind- and solar-power water electrolysis hydrogen projects had been filed nationwide, with a planned total investment exceeding 860 billion yuan. However, only 148 projects actually commenced construction, yielding a comprehensive construction start rate of 23.6%. The core pain point of the industry's sluggish investment was the absence of a unified statistical scope, cost accounting method, and operational supervision standard for hydrogen energy, causing capital to remain on the long-term sidelines. This policy improves the investment environment in three aspects: The National Energy Administration concurrently released unified hydrogen energy data statistical specifications, eliminating the need for enterprises to build their own differentiated data systems and reducing per-project digital compliance costs by 30%-45%. It is also aligned with 19 current draft national hydrogen standards for public comment, achieving bidirectional unification of data standards with equipment, storage and transportation, and refueling technology standards, thereby boosting the export recognition of domestically produced electrolyzers and hydrogen storage vessels. Standardized data furnishes financial institutions with a unified basis for cost estimation and project revenue assessment, substantially diminishing investment risks arising from policy changes. Supporting policies simultaneously tightened industry assessment: In April 2026, the National Energy Administration clarified dynamic elimination mechanisms for nine major hydrogen pilot regions. Projects are assessed monthly on economic viability based on operational data after commissioning; those without a stable profit model for six consecutive months are directly withdrawn, marking the industry's complete departure from the era of extensive subsidies. (III) Enabling Data Interoperability Across the Industry Chain to Revitalize Idle Hydrogen Capacity The Guidelines categorize a secondary-level hydrogen data catalog, covering seven segments: planning, engineering construction, hydrogen production, tube trailer storage and transportation, hydrogen refueling, transportation/industrial consumption, and technological R&D, thereby establishing a framework for data interoperability across the entire industry chain. Benchmark practice: Rongcheng New Energy built China’s first system for capitalizing hydrogen entire industry chain data assets. Its hydrogen big data platform aggregates data from all dimensions including hydrogen production units, tube trailers, hydrogen refueling stations, heavy truck operations, and equipment maintenance, accumulating a total of 21.08 billion real-time operational data entries. Leveraging cross-segment data synergy, the enterprise reduced its overall hydrogen production, storage, and transportation costs by 12.7% and lowered equipment idle rate by 18%. Meanwhile, the policy mandates that enterprises holding important or core hydrogen data undergo at least one security risk assessment per year. Cross-border data transfers of hydrogen technology and capacity data, as well as cross-enterprise data flows, must be preceded by a specialized risk review. This not only controls cross-border data security but also delineates a clear compliance pathway for domestic enterprises’ hydrogen project cooperation outside China, facilitating the export of green hydrogen equipment and complete hydrogen production processes. III. Conclusion Elevating hydrogen to a first-level energy data category is a landmark policy move that incorporates hydrogen into the management of the fundamental energy system. On one hand, through three-tier data security controls, it fills the gaps in digital regulation of hydrogen and mitigates cybersecurity risks in the industry. On the other hand, it unifies industry standards for statistics, operations, and cost data, alleviating three core pain points: idle green hydrogen capacity, investment wait-and-see attitude, and fragmentation of the industry chain. Against the backdrop of intensifying global hydrogen competition and China's dual goals of energy supply security and carbon reduction, data standardization will accelerate the large-scale deployment of green hydrogen, the comprehensive layout of storage and transportation pipeline networks, and propel hydrogen from a niche demonstration track to a core emerging industry that supports China's energy transition and participates in global energy competition.

Capacity-wise, according to incomplete statistics, China's alkaline electrolyzer market stood at 43.77 GW, while the PEM electrolyzer market stood at 2.7 GW. Peric Hydrogen, a subsidiary of the 718th Research Institute of CSSC, completed factory inspection and shipment for delivery of its first hydrogen project equipment in Canada. The project has an installed capacity of 1.75 MW and adopts a containerized integrated hydrogen production system. Project-related updates: Inner Mongolia Baogangxin Energy Co., Ltd. : The hydrogen production and storage integrated demonstration project it invested in has been filed. Located in the Bayan Obo mining area in Baotou, the project has a total investment of 41.9 million yuan. The project will be equipped with one set of 1000 Nm³/h alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production unit, one set of 500 Nm³/h proton exchange membrane water electrolysis hydrogen production unit, along with gaseous hydrogen storage tanks, a 100 kg solid-state hydrogen storage unit, and a heat storage and release system. It will also be furnished with supporting utilities such as power supply, automatic control, compressed air, and nitrogen generation facilities, creating an integrated demonstration project that couples multiple hydrogen production routes with solid-state hydrogen storage. China Energy Ningxia Coal Industry Co., Ltd. : The Phase I of the Ningdong Integrated Energy Station Project of Ningxia Coal Industry has been fully completed and is in the final stage of trial operation. The project is located at the entrance of the Ningdong Coal Chemical Industrial Park and is operated by Genyuan Zhihuan Logistics Company. Phase I has completed construction of canopies, refueling islands, LNG dispensing islands, an office building, fire-fighting and monitoring control rooms, and other supporting facilities. It is equipped with oil storage tanks with a total volume of 110 m³ and LNG storage tanks of 60 m³. The maximum on-site hydrogen storage capacity is 1,593.3 kg, including two 50 m³ diesel storage tanks, two 30 m³ gasoline storage tanks, one 60 m³ LNG storage tank, and three single-hose LNG dispensing islands. Meanwhile, civil works and process reservations for three hydrogen refueling islands have been completed. Once operational, the project will provide integrated refueling of oil, gas, and hydrogen for heavy-duty trucks, engineering machinery, and official vehicles in the park, thus strengthening the energy supply guarantee capacity of the Ningdong Coal Chemical Industry Base. CIMC New Energy (Liupanshui) Technology Co., Ltd. : The steel-coke integration project of CIMC New Energy (Liupanshui), a subsidiary of CIMC Enric, has been put into operation. The project relies on the coke oven gas from Shougang Shuicheng Steel to mass-produce blue LNG and 99.999% high-purity blue hydrogen. With a total investment of 808 million yuan, the project covers an area of 248 mu and had a construction period of 12 months. Upon reaching full production, it will achieve an annual output of 140 kt of LNG and 24 million Nm³ of high-purity blue hydrogen. Currently, the company has three similar projects in operation at Angang Bayuquan and Linggang, with three more new projects in the preliminary preparation stage. Its business covers Liaoning, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Southeast Asian markets outside China. All existing operating projects have a combined annual output of 48 million Nm³ of hydrogen, 420 kt of LNG, and 80 kt of liquid ammonia. Guoneng Nanjing Electric Power Test & Research Co., Ltd. : The EPRI subsidiary has issued a bidding announcement for hydrogen fuel procurement under a national key project. This project is undertaken by Guoneng Nanjing Electric Power Test & Research, involving fuel procurement for the National Key R&D Program "10 MW-class wide-load hydrogen co-firing technology integration and boiler demonstration." The test site is located at the Hainan Ledong Power Plant area. The project has a single bidding section for the 168-hour commissioning of a 10 MW pilot-scale gas boiler. It requires that the hydrogen blending heat value ratio in natural gas be no less than 20%, and the procurement includes pure hydrogen as well as full-process services such as transportation, technical training, and quality assurance. The gas supply threshold can be met by any one of three options: 200 hours of supply, 190,000 Nm³ of hydrogen, or the testing volume verified by the bid inviter; supply ends once any condition is met. Settlement will be based on the actual hydrogen supply volume. The supply period is 161 days from the contract signing, and all supplies must be completed by December 31, 2026. The supplier shall deliver to the Ledong site within 30 hours upon receiving the delivery notice. This tender only accepts bids from independent legal entities and agents, and does not accept any consortium. Hexi (Xinjiang) New Energy Co., Ltd. : The first phase of the 20 kt/year solar dish photothermal water splitting hydrogen production project at Sinopec Zhundong No.6 Station by Hexi Xinjiang New Energy has initiated its second public notice. The project is sited on the northwest side of Sinopec Zhundong Sixth Station in the Zhundong Economic and Technological Development Zone, Changji, Xinjiang, covering an area of 50 mu. It will build an integrated dish photothermal RSOC water splitting hydrogen production station equipped with complete facilities for concentrating light, thermal storage, power generation, hydrogen production reaction, hydrogen purification, transmission and distribution, intelligent control, and power supply and distribution. The first phase can produce 2 mt of green hydrogen and 16 mt of green oxygen daily, with an annual output of 660 mt of green hydrogen and 5,280 mt of green oxygen, leveraging new photothermal hydrogen production technology to expand local green hydrogen production pathways. Shanxi Yaxin New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : The additional hydrogen pipeline laying project for methanol has obtained record-filing. The total investment is 2 million yuan. The pipeline starts from the Shanxi Yaxin New Energy plant area, runs along the park road, and is laid to the Lu’an Taihua plant area. Relying on the existing pipe gallery, a 1.8 km backup hydrogen transmission pipeline is newly built, which can supply up to 144 million Nm³ of hydrogen annually. The project is planned to commence in June 2026 and be completed in August, and construction may begin only after all approvals for planning, environmental protection, and safety are obtained. Sichuan Yuyan New Materials Co., Ltd. : The supporting 8,500 Nm³/h natural gas-based hydrogen production unit for Sichuan Yuyan’s 300 kt/year hydrogen peroxide project has completed full-process commissioning and successfully produced qualified hydrogen. The unit has officially entered the trial production stage, providing assurance for the stable full-load operation of the main hydrogen peroxide facility. Three Gorges Bazhou Ruoqiang Energy Co., Ltd.: The tender is now open for the hydrogen production system equipment under the provisional price of the EPC contract for the Three Gorges Ruoqiang 6×660 MW coal-fired power project. The project is located in Ruoqiang County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, supporting the planned Ruoqiang–Sichuan ultra-high voltage DC transmission project. It is planned to install six 660 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired generating units, along with supporting environmental protection facilities. This procurement covers the plant-wide common hydrogen production equipment, including two sets of 10 Nm³/h proton exchange membrane water electrolysis hydrogen production main units and complete supporting equipment such as electric controls, hydrogen storage, pipelines, and spare parts. The equipment is expected to be delivered on truck at the Ruoqiang project site by August 2027, with the actual delivery time subject to the bid inviter’s notice. This tender explicitly does not accept consortium bids. China United Energy Group: The Jordanian Cabinet officially approved the signing of a land use agreement with China United Energy Group to jointly conduct a feasibility study for a local green hydrogen production project. This cooperation aligns with Jordan's clean energy development strategy, aiming to attract high-quality investment in green hydrogen and low-carbon fuels. Once implemented, the project will help Jordan build a regional hub for green industry and clean fuels, boost the development of the upstream and downstream green ammonia industrial chain, and expand export channels for low-carbon products to markets outside China. Shanghai International Port Group Energy Co., Ltd. : SIPG Energy's methanol bunkering vessel, "Haigang Zhiyuan," conducted a bunkering operation for Hanwha Shipping's "HMM LEAF" at anchorage, supplying 3,000 mt of domestically produced biomass green methanol. This successfully completed Shanghai Port's first anchorage green methanol bunkering and set a new record for the largest single anchorage green methanol bunkering operation in China. Following this operation, Shanghai Port's green methanol bunkering service coverage has been expanded to encompass the entire port area, with service waters extended from Yangshan Port, Waigaoqiao Port Area, and Changxing Island Shipyard to anchorage grounds, enabling flexible, customized green fuel bunkering solutions for global shipping enterprises. State Energy Group Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd.: The first phase of the Cangzhou "Green Port, Hydrogen City" green ammonia project has been successfully mechanically completed, officially entering the integrated commissioning and feed trial operation stage. This project is Hebei Province's first 10kt-level green ammonia project. The first phase is equipped with a 50,000 mt/yr synthetic ammonia unit, relying on local wind and solar power green electricity and employing alkaline water electrolysis for hydrogen production, cryogenic nitrogen generation, and a multi-steady-state flexible synthesis process to produce green ammonia. Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd.: The results were announced for potential suppliers in the procurement project for a containerized integrated hydrogen production system for the R&D Center. This procurement did not accept consortium bids. The first-ranked candidate is Beijing Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd., with a bid of 463,980 yuan; the second-ranked candidate is Xianhu Technology Co., Ltd., with a bid of 485,000 yuan; the third-ranked candidate is Shandong Saikesaisi Hydrogen Energy Co., Ltd., with a bid of 598,000 yuan. The procurer is purchasing this equipment for internal R&D work. Policy Review 1. The Ministry of Transport, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and eight other departments jointly issued the "Implementation Plan for Promoting the Large-Scale Application of New Energy Heavy Trucks," setting multiple targets and regulating the construction of energy replenishment infrastructure. The plan proposes that by 2030, the penetration rate of new energy heavy trucks should reach 40%, with ownership exceeding 1.6 million units and accounting for approximately 20% of total heavy truck ownership. The electrification rate for short-distance transport in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Fenwei Plain should exceed 80%, and the freight volume share of new energy heavy trucks on expressways should reach 18%. The national plan is to deploy approximately 3,000 battery charging and swapping stations for heavy trucks, build zero-carbon freight corridors along the expressway network, and simultaneously support these with hydrogen refueling and green fuel bunkering facilities. The document specifies that highway renovation projects must synchronously plan and construct supporting clean energy facilities such as charging and battery swapping stations, hydrogen production and refueling infrastructure, and energy storage systems. Parking areas for new energy heavy trucks for charging and swapping must maintain safe distances from densely populated service areas and oil and gas stations, and facility construction must strictly adhere to mandatory national standards. The plan proposes to build a comprehensive support system encompassing infrastructure, equipment, services, standards, and policies, establishing a multi-departmental collaborative linkage and promotion mechanism. 2. The PipeChina Hydrogen Energy Storage and Transportation Technology Exchange Conference was held in Beijing. The meeting unveiled the technical plan and complete set of standards for hydrogen pipeline transmission engineering, establishing a full-chain standardized system for hydrogen storage, transportation, and delivery, filling the gap in standards for complete sets of technologies for long-distance, large-scale hydrogen pipeline transmission in China, achieving a breakthrough from single-point technological advancements to systematic application. The complete technologies cover core engineering needs such as new hydrogen pipelines and retrofitting natural gas pipelines for hydrogen blending, establishing the first hydrogen pipeline transmission technical framework suitable for six sub-scenarios within two main application categories. The supporting standards cover the entire process including pipe materials, design, construction, and safety operations and maintenance, providing technical support for the demonstration and large-scale promotion of hydrogen pipeline transmission. 3. The National Energy Administration released the "Guidelines for the Classification and Grading of Data in the Energy Industry (2026 Edition)." The document indicates that these guidelines are applicable to the classification and grading of non-sensitive data within the energy industry in the People's Republic of China. Dimensions for energy industry data classification include, but are not limited to, energy type and energy activity. By energy type, the first-level classification of energy industry data includes: coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear energy, hydropower, wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy, electricity, hydrogen energy, etc. By energy activity, the second-level classification of energy industry data includes: planning, design, construction, production, storage and transportation, consumption, scientific research, etc. Energy industry data processors may conduct third-level and fourth-level classifications based on data content and characteristics. Company Updates Hua Shang Xia Geng Hydrogen Technology (Xiamen) Co., Ltd. : The purchase contract for a 600 Nm³ skid-mounted hydrogen production equipment unit in Italy, led by Huashang International and executed by Huashang Xiamen Hydrogen, has officially come into effect. Following the export of the same model of hydrogen production equipment to Indonesia last year, the enterprise has successfully achieved a key breakthrough in the European market. This supply involves a complete containerized hydrogen production system, encompassing a full suite of equipment including an alkaline electrolyzer, power supply, purification system, cooling system, and automatic control system. The equipment will obtain the EU "4+1" CE certification, making it the first domestically produced alkaline electrolysis hydrogen production equipment to be exported to the EU with this certification. Sungrow Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd. : Successfully won the bid for the 45MW hydrogen production unit project at the Daye Linkong Hydrogen Energy Industrial Base, deploying a 2000 Nm³/h electrolyzer to support the green transformation of this resource-dependent city. This bid win includes five sets of 1000 Nm³/h and two sets of 2000 Nm³/h alkaline hydrogen production systems. The 2000 Nm³/h electrolyzer has undergone two years of iteration and over 4,000 hours of field testing, demonstrating stable and highly efficient performance. The excellent operational performance and highly recognized equipment and O&M services provided by Sungrow Hydrogen for the Daye Jiangqiao hydrogen production project previously laid the foundation for this renewed cooperation. Zhejiang Yuancheng New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group Co., Ltd. : Jointly built with China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Shanghai's first integrated methanol refueling station—the Jiading Xingle Methanol Refueling Station—has officially commenced operations at No. 2619 Jia'an Road, Jiading District. Dongfang Electric Corporation : The new-generation high-pressure diaphragm compressor unit, jointly developed by Xinran Group Compressor Co., Ltd. and Dongfang Electric Corporation Boiler Co., Ltd., officially began commissioning at the Xinran production site. A special acceptance expert group arrived on site to conduct comprehensive verification of equipment performance, process, and safety across all dimensions. Shanghai AnChi Technology Co., Ltd.: Officially launched the world's first four-nozzle integrated mobile hydrogen ultra-fast charging station. By entering the hydrogen-powered off-grid ultra-fast charging sector with an integrated "hydrogen-electricity-storage-charging" solution, it injects new momentum into the construction of new power systems and the green transformation of the energy structure. Shaanxi Yulin Energy Group New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. : Held cooperation discussions with China Hydrogen Energy Group Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Xinran Compressor. The three parties held in-depth discussions on matters concerning the construction of the Yulin Green Hydrogen Project, joint development of integrated energy stations, hydrogen energy equipment matching, coal chemical industry upgrades, high-end compressor matching, and local production site establishment, reaching a consensus on comprehensive industrial cooperation. NewAir (Hangzhou) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. : Formally signed a technology development cooperation agreement with China Huanqiu Contracting & Engineering Co., Ltd. The two parties will leverage their respective strengths in technological innovation and large-scale chemical engineering implementation to jointly develop a commercial process package for Flexfining™ ethanol-to-sustainable aviation fuel, opening a critical pathway for domestic alcohol-to-jet technology from laboratory scale to industrial implementation, while simultaneously planning large-scale industrial projects in and outside China. SPIC Green Energy Co., Ltd. : SPIC Green Energy signed a special cooperation agreement with the Second Research Institute of CAAC in Chengdu, marking the entry of their collaboration into a new phase of implementation. Next, the two parties will conduct in-depth cooperation focused on technological breakthroughs, standards research, industry-research integration, and talent cultivation to overcome challenges in SAF industry development, accelerate the implementation of demonstration projects, promote low-carbon aviation development, and support national energy security and the achievement of the "dual carbon" goals. Beijing SinoHy Energy Co., Ltd.: Signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., a globally leading EPC enterprise, to jointly pursue global green hydrogen projects. According to the agreement, SinoHy Energy will contribute its technical strengths in alkaline electrolytic stacks and core hydrogen production equipment; Hyundai Engineering & Construction will leverage its experience in large-scale global energy infrastructure projects to provide system integration and EPC delivery services. The two parties will collaborate to create integrated alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production solutions for delivery to project developers worldwide. Patent Applications 1. Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) published patent CN2025110028, developing a ceramic-based anion exchange membrane with a laboratory-tested lifespan of 80,000 hours. 2. Johnson Matthey (UK) submitted patent WO2025109876, disclosing an Fe-Ni-Mo ternary non-precious metal catalyst formula with activity approaching that of platinum-based materials. Technology Footprints/Specifications 1. The team of Tong Lei and Liang Haiwei from USTC, together with Zhang Liang from Tsinghua University, proposed a Carbon Mesopore Depth Engineering (CMDE) strategy. By utilizing hollow mesoporous carbon spheres to regulate ionomer penetration depth, they addressed the inherent conflict between kinetic activity and oxygen mass transport in low-platinum fuel cells, developing a PtCo low-platinum catalyst that combines anti-poisoning properties, high mass transport, and excellent durability. Under an ultra-low platinum loading of 0.1 mgPt cm⁻², it achieved the power, activity, and durability targets stipulated by the US DOE. 2. The team of Professor Li Zhipeng from Northwestern Polytechnical University innovatively constructed a three-dimensional multi-physics field coupling model for tubular solid oxide fuel cells, systematically revealing the quantitative influence of temperature, electrode thickness, porosity, and oxygen domain geometric parameters on cell output performance. 3. China Automotive Engineering Research Institute's National Hydrogen Power Quality Inspection and Testing Center has built a 0-400kW three-axis comprehensive vibration testing platform for hydrogen-related equipment under load and opened it for commercial use, addressing the domestic gap in high-power hydrogen-related multi-physics field coupled testing. 4. The high-specific-power closed-cathode air-cooled fuel cell stack technology developed by the team of Academician Chen Zhongwei and Associate Researcher Zhang Meng at the State Key Laboratory of Energy Catalytic Conversion, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, has passed the scientific and technological achievement appraisal organized by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. This technology effectively resolves the industry contradiction between water retention and oxygen mass transfer in air-cooled fuel cells, solving technical challenges such as low-humidity performance degradation, carbon corrosion, dry membrane flooding, and high-power thermal management. 5. Two group standards concerning hydrogen production by water electrolysis have been officially released and implemented: the "Technical Specification for Safety of Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis" and the "Method for Calculating Economic Operation Indicators for Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis." 6. Petronor and H2SITE are collaborating to advance membrane technology for hydrogen production, enhancing high-purity hydrogen recovery and low-carbon efficiency in refining.

The third meeting of the Jiangsu Provincial Energy Committee, also a meeting on ensuring energy and power supply during the summer peak, was held on June 29. The meeting stressed the need to strengthen power security and supply capacity, ensure the timely commissioning of supporting power sources, accelerate the construction of new energy such as distributed PV and offshore wind power, and build a new-type power grid system in conjunction with the "Six Networks"; deepen energy reform and innovation, accelerate energy technology innovation, coordinated development of computing and electricity, and AI empowerment; and establish a power market system with diverse players, orderly competition, and standardized operation.

At the Rio de Janeiro Energy Summit on June 25, panelists stated that without direct government support, Brazil will not advance its critical minerals sector, given the country's lack of infrastructure, technology, and long‑term investment. Analysts noted that minerals have become a strategic asset essential for ensuring technological leadership and energy security, and should no longer be viewed merely as extractive commodities. They added that a sound legal and regulatory framework is key to providing predictability and certainty for long‑term investment in the industry. Marcos Mesquita, Strategic Vice President of LPG distributor Copa Energia, said the mining sector should focus on diversifying extraction operations into multiple minerals and their by‑products to increase revenue. Mesquita added that Brazil should not emulate China, as it can leverage its abundant water resources and dominant renewable energy generation to build a more sustainable industry platform.

Alcoa has signed a gas offtake agreement with Woodside Energy to supply a total of 31.1 petajoules of natural gas to its Western Australian alumina refineries from 2027 to 2030. The agreement strengthens near-term energy security for Alcoa's operations while supporting its long-term energy strategy, including gas supply beyond 2030 and greater integration of renewable energy. Alcoa employs around 4,000 people in Western Australia, and its gas-powered alumina refineries are among the lowest-carbon alumina refineries globally. The alumina produced at these facilities is used as the primary raw material for aluminium production.