Recently, the People’s Government of Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, signed an agreement on comprehensively deepening cooperation with China Energy Engineering Group. Meanwhile, Huzhou Communications Investment Group and China Energy Engineering East China Construction Investment Co., Ltd. signed a framework agreement for comprehensive deepening of cooperation, and jointly established Huzhou Green Shipping Development Co., Ltd. and work together to build a green intelligent shipbuilding base in Huzhou with a total investment of RMB 33 billion (approximately US$4.59 billion).
Among them, Zhejiang Province’s first green intelligent ship technology industrial park project plans to invest approximately RMB 5.286 billion (approximately US$735 million). The project is located on the coast of Miaoxi Port in Kangshan Street and covers a total area of 612 mu.
The first phase of the project, which covers a total area of approximately 500 mu (approximately 1,677 acres), involves the construction of a new energy ship intelligent manufacturing base with an investment of RMB 2.726 billion (approximately US$379 million). The base will add 111,470 square meters of new construction area. The base will also include 272 sets of production equipment, including 100-ton and 15-ton gantry cranes, modular cranes, CNC cutting machines, welding equipment, and blanking and processing equipment. Upon completion, the project will have an annual production capacity of 200 electric powered vessels.
The second phase will build charging and battery swapping infrastructure and supporting industries, covering an area of approximately 100 mu, with a total investment of RMB 2.56 billion (approximately US$356 million). Eight new charging and swapping facilities will be built, including 3,000 square meters of new construction area in South Taihu, equipped with 50 1000kV charging piles, more than 40 sets of battery energy storage equipment, and photovoltaic and supporting industrial facilities.
The project has entered a substantive implementation phase. The tender plan was released in June, with an estimated construction period of 720 calendar days. Construction is expected to commence in the second half of this year, with formal operation scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026. At that time, this smart manufacturing base will inject strong momentum into Huzhou’s high-end equipment manufacturing industry and will also serve as a key driver for the development of green shipping in the Yangtze River Delta region.
According to public information, China Energy Engineering Group is committed to building a world-class integrated energy enterprise and has developed a variety of new “energy+” industries across the country. Huzhou, using the nation’s first inland green shipping corridor pilot project as a fulcrum, is focusing on four key areas: green waterways, green terminals, green ships, and a green environment, comprehensively exploring the deep integration of inland shipping and energy systems.
This cooperation marks a new stage of high-quality development for Huzhou’s green shipping industry and provides a new model for the high-quality development of inland shipping in the Yangtze River Delta.
Recently, Huzhou issued the “Implementation Plan for Promoting Full Domination of Electric Ships and Leading the Development of Green and Intelligent Shipbuilding Industry (2025 – 2030)”, striving to promote the construction of a first-class inland river hub port in China and fully build a pilot demonstration zone for a modern inland river shipping system. According to the plan, by 2030, Huzhou intends to complete and put into operation more than 1,800 1,000-ton-class electric ships and build a 50-billion-yuan high-end green and intelligent shipbuilding industry cluster.