Four vessels! Guangdong’s first 5,000-ton-class all-electric bulk carrier project has been signed.

On July 17, Guangdong XinKong Energy Group Co., Ltd. held a centralized signing ceremony for its key projects slated for 2026, with four major strategic cooperation initiatives—energy supply security, green shipping, energy conservation and carbon reduction, and district heating—officially launched.

Among them, the new‑energy intelligent bulk carrier project—jointly developed by XinKong Energy Group, CALB, and Zhuhai Qihang New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.—has officially been signed, marking Guangdong’s first 5,000‑ton class all‑electric bulk carrier initiative. By sharing technology and leveraging complementary resources, the three parties are jointly pioneering a zero‑emission model for inland shipping, helping shipbuilders seize the forefront of green technologies, expanding XinKong Energy Group’s footprint in clean shipping, and setting a win‑win benchmark for the low‑carbon transformation of waterborne transport in the Greater Bay Area.

The project has a total investment of approximately RMB 100 million and plans to build four 5,000-ton-class all‑electric bulk carriers. It aims to establish a green demonstration shipping route integrating “green vessels, clean energy refueling, smart shipping, and full‑chain collaboration,” thereby enhancing vessel utilization and the overall economic efficiency of the route. This project marks the first new‑energy, intelligent bulk carrier initiative in Jiangmen’s inland waterway transport sector.

According to the plan, in order to thoroughly implement the national “dual carbon” goals, the National Port and Waterway Layout Plan, and the relevant requirements for green, high-quality development of inland waterway transport in Jiangmen City, while seizing the opportunities presented by the integrated development of the Pearl River Delta, and fully leveraging the resource advantages of all parties, a demonstration model for the green transformation of inland waterway transport nationwide will be established. To this end, Xin Kong Energy Group, Qi Hang Xin Neng, and Zhong Chuang Xin Hang will integrate their respective strengths and jointly establish a joint‑venture project company, which will be responsible for the construction of the new‑energy intelligent bulk‑carrier project.

As a key state-owned enterprise under the district government that has long been committed to its core business of “energy + resources,” New Control Energy Group has, over the past five years, amassed total assets of approximately RMB 8 billion and generated annual revenues of about RMB 2.5 billion, consistently serving as a stabilizing force in regional energy supply and a leading driver of green transformation.

Xinkong Energy Group will take this signing as a new starting point, working with all its might to ensure the project is completed, commissioned, and delivers results at the earliest possible date. The Group will continue to deepen strategic collaboration with all stakeholders, leveraging cleaner, more efficient, and more reliable energy services to drive high-quality regional development and jointly usher in a new chapter of win-win green and low-carbon growth.

According to reports, Guangdong XinKong Energy Group Co., Ltd. was established in October 2021 and is a state-owned enterprise under the jurisdiction of Xinhui District, Jiangmen City. The group has strategically positioned itself across six core business segments: combined heat and power generation, new‑energy solutions integrating solar, storage, and charging infrastructure, power‑equipment manufacturing, port‑and‑shipping logistics supply chains, smart street‑light management, and big‑data services. It brings together more than ten high‑quality subsidiaries, including Xinhui Shuangshui Power Plant, Yinzhouhu Energy, and Xinhui Port & Shipping, jointly building a diversified, synergistic, and resilient modern industrial ecosystem. By 2025, the group’s total assets are expected to reach approximately RMB 8 billion, with annual revenues of around RMB 2.5 billion.

One of the partners, Zhuhai Qihang New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., was established in early 2024. As a provider of comprehensive green shipping solutions, its core business encompasses new‑energy vessel design, retrofitting of existing vessels, power‑system integration, and the construction and operation of charging and battery‑swapping infrastructure. The company has set up its management headquarters and a ship‑electrification R&D center in the Zhuhai High‑Tech Industrial Development Zone, focusing on forward‑looking research and development of vessel designs, “three‑electric” systems, and energy‑replenishment facilities. Over the next five years, it plans to deploy 250 new‑energy vessels, aiming to become one of China’s largest technology companies specializing in new‑energy ships.

Another partner, CALB, is a leading player in China’s new‑energy power‑battery sector, specializing in the research, development, production, sales, and market‑application development of lithium batteries, battery management systems, related integrated products, and lithium‑battery materials. The company is committed to building a comprehensive energy‑operation ecosystem, providing robust product solutions and full‑lifecycle management for the entire spectrum of new‑energy applications, including both propulsion and energy‑storage markets.