June 24, 2024 -- As the impact of extreme weather on public services in Hong Kong intensifies, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited has implemented various climate resilience measures at the onset of the typhoon season. These include enhancing flood prevention facilities at the Tai Po Gas Production Plant and introducing ultrasonic technology for pipeline inspections, ensuring a safe and reliable gas supply. In the long term, Towngas plans to gradually introduce and use zero-carbon fuels to replace fossil fuels, striving to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
With memories of last year’s super typhoon and torrential downpour still fresh in people’s minds, Towngas continues to conduct climate risk assessments, perform on-site facility inspections, review and improve resilience measures, and strengthen its emergency preparedness. Taking the Tai Po Gas Production Plant as an example, Towngas has identified the risk of flooding and typhoons, and equipped critical locations with flood gates and water pumps, together with an early warning system for flooding.
As for the gas supply network, through upgrades to its pipeline infrastructure and continuous monitoring, the robustness of the Towngas system is enhanced to withstand extreme weather. Towngas has introduced ultrasonic instruments to inspect pipeline conditions and deploys the “Internal Conditioning Robot for Steel Pipe” for tasks inside steel pipes. When the once-in-500-years rainstorm swept across the city in September 2023, no gas supply suspension case was reported, demonstrating the importance of high-quality gas pipeline systems and rigorous contingency mechanisms.
These measures will help ensure a safe and reliable gas supply. To support Hong Kong’s development and enhance supply safety and reliability, Towngas has invested approximately HK$1.9 billion in capital expenditure over the past two years, primarily for pipeline facilities and plant equipment upgrades.
Cutting emissions plays an important role in combating climate change. In alignment with the national “30-60” dual carbon goals and the HKSAR Government’s 2050 carbon neutrality strategy, Towngas plans to introduce zero-carbon fuels, such as green naphtha, green methane, green hydrogen, green methanol, in phases to replace fossil fuels. The target is to reduce the total carbon intensity of using town gas by 36% (compared to the 2019 baseline) by 2035, reaching 0.15 kg CO2e/kWh.
At the same time, Towngas has been upgrading its infrastructure to improve efficiency and avoid unnecessary methane emissions, as well as utilising low-carbon energy sources such as natural gas and landfill gas to further reduce carbon emissions.
Towngas also provide low-carbon energy solutions to its customers to reduce Scope 3 emissions, including proactively encouraging diesel steam boiler users to switch to greener town gas steam boilers, as they emit about 12 per cent less carbon than their traditional diesel-powered counterparts while producing stable and high-quality steam.
Towngas will continue to closely monitor its climate resilience strategy, timely update its adverse weather preparedness plans, regularly conduct emergency drills and incorporate climate-specific inspections to ensure its gas production and transmission facilities are sufficiently resilient against extreme weather events.
In brief
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited says it has strengthened preparations for extreme weather in Hong Kong, including flood controls at its Tai Po gas plant and ultrasonic pipeline inspections. The company also reports ongoing risk assessments, facility checks and emergency planning, and says no gas supply interruption was reported during the September 2023 rainstorm. Towngas says it spent approximately HK$1.9 billion on capital expenditure over the past two years, mainly for pipeline and plant upgrades. Looking ahead, it plans to phase in zero-carbon fuels and targets a 36% reduction in town gas carbon intensity by 2035, against a 2019 baseline. It also offers lower-carbon energy options to customers, including town gas steam boilers, which it says emit about 12% less carbon than diesel-powered alternatives.
Key takeaways
- Towngas says flood gates, pumps and a warning system protect vulnerable locations at its Tai Po gas plant.
- Ultrasonic tools and an internal pipe robot are used for pipeline inspection and maintenance.
- The company reports approximately HK$1.9 billion in capital expenditure over the past two years, mainly for infrastructure and plant upgrades.
- Towngas plans to introduce zero-carbon fuels and targets lower town gas carbon intensity by 2035.
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Press photos:
Photo 1:
Towngas continuously evaluates and improves risk management strategies for climate risks.
Photo 2:
Towngas deploys the “Internal Conditioning Robot for Steel Pipe” for tasks inside steel pipes eliminating the risks associated with workers entering confined spaces.
Photo 3:
Towngas attaches great importance to pipeline maintenance and repair work ensuring a safe and reliable gas supply.
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Mr Addie Lam
Assistant General Manager –
Group Corporate Affairs
Tel: 2963 2578 / 6702 6449
Email: [email protected]
Ms Kara Kwong
Senior Corporate Affairs Officer
Tel: 2963 3497 / 6698 3357
Email: [email protected]
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Questions around this news
What measures is Towngas taking to protect its facilities and gas supply from extreme weather?
Towngas says it assesses climate risks, inspects facilities, reviews resilience measures and strengthens emergency preparedness. At its Tai Po Gas Production Plant, it has installed flood gates and water pumps at critical locations and uses a flood early-warning system. It also upgrades and monitors pipeline infrastructure and conducts pipeline inspections using ultrasonic instruments and an internal pipe robot.
How does ultrasonic technology help inspect gas pipelines?
Ultrasonic inspection uses high-frequency sound waves to examine materials and identify features such as changes in thickness or possible defects. In pipeline settings, inspection equipment can send and receive these sound waves to assess pipe condition. The approach can help operators check infrastructure without relying solely on visual access to the pipe’s interior.
What does Scope 3 emissions mean in the context of customer energy use?
Scope 3 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur across an organisation’s value chain, rather than directly from its own operations or from purchased energy it consumes. They can include emissions associated with the use of products or services sold to customers. The release refers to customer energy solutions as one way to reduce these emissions.
Earlier from The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
- Four Towngas “Strive and Rise” mentors commended for their dedication to nurturing mentees
- 3rd TERA-Award receives record-high 450 submissions
- Towngas commits to supplying green energy and improving appliance energy efficiency in line with global energy transition
- Expanding horizons: Towngas Management Trainee Programme ventures into various positions in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland
