China's 1st hydrogen locomotive starts trial commercial operation

China's first hydrogen locomotive for commercial use started trial operation in Liupanshui City, Guizhou Province on Saturday, filling a gap in southwest China's hydrogen-powered rail freight transportation.

The locomotive is currently used in shunting operation at the city's Meijin Railway Station.

It is capable of running 140 to 150 kilometers at a time after being charged with 60 kilograms of hydrogen, and has a hauling capacity of over 4,500 tonnes.

On the same day, 100 hydrogen heavy trucks and four hydrogen fuel cell buses were also put into use in Liupanshui.

China's coal production of enterprises above the designated size reached 4.83 billion tonnes in 2025, up 1.2 percent year on year and marking a new historical high, according to the China National Coal Association.

As the cornerstone of the country's energy security, coal output maintained steady growth throughout the year in 2025, providing strong support for stable energy supply.

Four major coal-producing regions -- Shanxi, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang -- accounted for about 82 percent of national output in the past year, with their outbound shipments made up more than 95 percent of China's inter-provincial coal transfers, playing a critical role in ensuring reliable and stable coal supply nationwide.

Since the onset of winter, the demand for coal has climbed up as energy consumption for heating continues to increase. To cope with the seasonal surge, railway authorities across the country have optimized transport planning and dispatching to ensure smooth coal deliveries during the peak consumption period.

"China's national coal output has continued to show stable growth since winter began. In December alone, raw coal production of enterprises above the designated size reached 440 million tonnes, with average daily output of 14.1 million tonnes, remaining at a historical high. Coal production has increased steadily, while inventory levels have also stayed at a high level," said Zhang Hong, vice president of the China National Coal Association.

Industrial enterprises above designated size refer to those with an annual main business revenue of 20 million yuan (about 2.87 million U.S. dollars) or more.