Authorities in Guangxi's Hengzhou have launched a coordinated crackdown on unauthorized fueling stations operating under the guise of new energy sources.

According to an announcement from the Nanning Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau on September 8, the Hengzhou Ecology and Environment Bureau recently spearheaded a multi-departmental enforcement campaign targeting counterfeit new-energy fueling stations. The initiative is designed to suppress illegal operations falsely claiming to use hydrogen, methanol, or composite new-energy fuels, mitigate risks of soil and groundwater contamination, and address production safety hazards. The effort also seeks to restore order to the fuel sales market.

On September 3, 2026, the Hengzhou Ecology and Environment Bureau, in collaboration with local economic and information technology, natural resources, emergency management, public security, and market regulation departments, conducted targeted joint inspections of suspected pseudo new-energy refueling points within its jurisdiction.

The operation concentrated on high-incidence regions such as national highway corridors and urban-rural fringe zones. Using unannounced inspections, teams sought to uncover concealed sites that market themselves as offering "new energy" or "exhaust cleaner" products while effectively selling motor fuel.

Each department executed its specific oversight duties: the ecological environment division reviewed environmental impact assessment documentation and filing compliance. Emergency management, public security, market regulation, and natural resources teams verified land use approvals, hazardous chemical storage and handling credentials, business license scopes, and safety conditions. Fuel samples were also collected and sent for laboratory analysis.

For confirmed violations discovered during the inspections, enforcement teams applied differentiated legal measures. Entities breaching environmental regulations received formal correction orders, mandating an immediate halt to refueling operations and requiring the dismantling of dispensing equipment within a set timeframe.

On-site, authorities also carried out legal education sessions. Operators were briefed on the Environmental Ecology Code of the People's Republic of China and informed about the ecological damage and legal repercussions associated with operating sham new-energy fueling stations, reinforcing their accountability.

Going forward, the Hengzhou Ecology and Environment Bureau plans to refine a closed-loop mechanism for tip-off detection, joint verification, and case referral. It will intensify routine patrols and undercover inspections to prevent unlawful stations from resurfacing. Concurrently, public reporting channels will be made more accessible, and broader outreach will highlight the safety and environmental dangers of counterfeit fueling stations, encouraging residents to take part in oversight to safeguard both ecological integrity and public safety.