EconomyInFocus | China's Xinjiang accelerates green, smart energy transition

An aerial drone photo shows an all-vanadium redox flow energy storage integrated project of China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) in Jimsar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Photo by He Long/Xinhua)

KARAMAY, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- In 2026, the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has remained firmly committed to its strategic roles and accelerated the transition toward greener, smarter and more effective energy development and utilization.

In the oil and gas sector, a series of key core technologies have seen major breakthroughs, achieving economically viable development of unconventional oil and gas resources while significantly raising single-well productivity. Meanwhile, more new energy projects combining photovoltaic power generation with long-duration energy storage help provide clean energy to tens of thousands of households. Digital and intelligent technologies have been applied across the entire process of energy exploitation, development and production.

Xinjiang is tapping its resource advantages while enabling innovation to play a greater role in a continuing endeavor to lay a solid foundation for a modern industrial system.

Staff members inspect a pilot facility for carbon dioxide miscible flooding at Xinjiang Oilfield Company of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Karamay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Staff members do patrol checking at a shale oil joint station of Jiqing Oilfield operation area of Xinjiang Oilfield Company of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Jimsar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Staff members check equipment in Jiqing Oilfield operation area of Xinjiang Oilfield Company of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Jimsar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

Staff members inspect a pilot facility for carbon dioxide miscible flooding of Xinjiang Oilfield Company of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Karamay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

A staff member does microbial experiment at Xinjiang Keli New Technology Development Co., Ltd in Karamay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

An aerial drone photo shows a shale oil joint station of Jiqing Oilfield operation area of Xinjiang Oilfield Company of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Jimsar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Aug. 30, 2026. (Photo by He Long/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo shows a photovoltaic project at Xinjiang Oilfield Company of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Karamay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 1, 2026. (Photo by Qi Jianyu/Xinhua)

An oil pumping engine is seen at a pilot facility for carbon dioxide miscible flooding of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Karamay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)