National Energy Administration Plans to Issue Guidelines for Private Enterprises to Participate in Investment in Medium and Large Hydropower Projects

On the 26th, the National Energy Administration said that during the 15th FiveYear Plan period, it will issue guidance on private enterprises participating in investment in medium and largescale hydropower and other projects, further expanding the investment space for private enterprises in major energy projects. Wan Jinsong, spokesperson and deputy head of the National Energy Administration, said at a State Council Information Office press conference that as China's green and lowcarbon energy transition accelerates, new models and new business formats continue to emerge, giving private enterprises more opportunities to participate in energy development. Relevant departments will continue to make energy projects more open, and will assess the feasibility of private enterprise participation on a projectbyproject basis for major projects with certain returns, such as nuclear power, hydropower, and oil and gas storage and transportation. Wan Jinsong also noted that private enterprises have already participated in investment in multiple nuclear power projects, with equity stakes in some projects reaching as high as 20%. In new energy and emerging business formats, private enterprises have also broadly taken part in areas such as direct green electricity connections, zerocarbon industrial parks, industrial green microgrids, integrated energy services, virtual power plants, charging infrastructure, and new energy storage. In addition, the National Energy Administration said it will improve the investment environment for private enterprises in the energy sector through measures such as rectifying disorder in bidding and tendering, advancing fair access to infrastructure, simplifying approval procedures, and enhancing government services.