Changjiang Li Autonomous County, recognized as Hainan's largest clean energy hub and home to the province's only nuclear power base, is setting its sights on a new phase of development. During a press conference held on September 8th by the Hainan Provincial Information Office, part of the "Starting the 15th Five-Year Plan" series, it was revealed that the county will focus on several major energy projects.

In the coming period, the region plans to complete and commission the No. 3 and No. 4 units of the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, accelerate the start of construction for the No. 5 and No. 6 units, and advance the development of offshore wind power projects with a total planned capacity of 6.2 million kilowatts. By the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, clean energy generated in Changjiang is projected to account for over 60% of the province's total electricity consumption.

Ming Yingguan, Party Secretary and Director of the Changjiang County Science, Technology, and Industrial Informatization Bureau, outlined the county's strategic focus. He stated that during this period, Changjiang will leverage its existing industrial base and resource advantages to concentrate on three key sectors: clean energy, green computing power, and new materials. The goal is to facilitate the local conversion of resources and energy, extend the industrial chain, and upgrade traditional industries to accelerate the formation of a new industrial system with distinctive Changjiang characteristics.

To strengthen the clean energy sector, efforts will be directed towards the completion of nuclear power units 3 and 4, the commencement of units 5 and 6, and the orderly construction of the large-scale offshore wind projects. Furthermore, there is a strong emphasis on integrating energy production with industrial development. By leveraging the "Linglong One," the world's first commercial onshore small modular reactor, the county will actively explore direct connections between nuclear power and computing centers. This, combined with direct green power connections from offshore wind, signals a shift in the energy industry from a model of primarily generating and transmitting electricity to one focused more on local conversion and empowering industrial growth.

Regarding the expansion of the smart computing industry, Changjiang's bid is underpinned by its stable and abundant clean energy supply and Hainan Free Trade Port's institutional advantages for accessing international markets. This stands in contrast to other Chinese regions; while the west relies mainly on low-cost green power and the east on market demand and low latency, Hainan is carving a unique path distinguished by the integration of green energy, free trade port policies, and international market reach. The county intends to build its computing and data operations around the pillars of "clean energy, computing infrastructure, and cross-border applications." By fully utilizing policies related to cross-border data flow, international communications, equipment imports, and tax incentives, Changjiang aims to actively develop computing and data services for the global market. This strategy is expected to attract and support a cluster of related industries, including computing hardware, system integration, network communications, and operations and maintenance services, positioning the county as a key hub for green computing in Hainan and an international service node.

In the sphere of new materials, Changjiang will capitalize on its iron ore, limestone, and other resources, along with its existing industrial foundations. On one front, the county will push traditional sectors like mining and cement to undergo equipment upgrades and technological transformations, accelerating their shift towards digitalization, intelligence, and greener practices. This includes promoting the circular utilization of tailings, waste rock, industrial solid waste, and end-of-life vehicles. On another front, led by the Chenguang Rare Earth New Materials project, the focus will be on developing advanced inorganic non-metallic materials, new energy materials, and resource recycling materials. This approach is designed to transition resource-based industries from primary processing to deep processing with higher added value.