PetroChina's Xinjiang ethylene hub adds 1.2 million tons capacity with solar power and carbon capture

PetroChina has started operating a new ethylene production line in Xinjiang, adding 1.2 million tons of annual capacity and bringing the region's total to 3 million tons. The facility is described as China's first fully green ethylene production chain, using solar power from the Tarim Oilfield and recycling carbon dioxide and hydrogen to cut emissions by 1.37 million tons per year. The expansion shifts ethylene production from China's eastern coast to the resource-rich west, aiming to reduce supply chain risks amid Middle East tensions. It also aligns with Beijing's three-year industrial efficiency plan targeting energy savings and carbon cuts across nine high-emission sectors. The project shows how China is balancing industrial growth with decarbonization goals.