Construction is nearing completion on China’s first long-distance pure hydrogen pipeline, a 121-mile (195-kilometer) infrastructure project designed to deliver low-cost green hydrogen to the heavy industrial hub of Baotou.

The Damao Banner–Baotou pipeline represents a critical milestone in the National Energy Administration’s first national pilot program for hydrogen energy.

Running primarily north to south, the pipeline originates at the Barun Industrial Park chemical cluster in the Bayan Obo mining district and terminates in Baotou’s Kundulun District.

Along its path, the route passes through the New Industrial Park, Guyang County and Urad Front Banner.

Engineered to handle high-pressure transport across challenging terrain, the pipeline features a design pressure of 6.3 megapascals, a 457-millimeter diameter and an annual transmission capacity of 100,000 metric tons.

As a national-level demonstration project, the infrastructure provides crucial operational data for building and maintaining high-pressure pure hydrogen networks.

Project engineers expect the pipeline to serve as a blueprint for expanding integrated green hydrogen networks across China, linking renewable production directly to heavy industrial consumers.

Baotou is uniquely positioned to benefit from the network. Abundant local wind and solar resources allow green hydrogen production costs to drop as low as 18 yuan ($2.67) per kilogram.

By connecting these low-cost generation sites directly to the city’s vast steel, metallurgy and chemical manufacturing facilities, the pipeline will dramatically lower energy costs for downstream users while accelerating the decarbonization of energy-intensive operations.

Beyond localized distribution, the pipeline will act as a foundational regional hub. City planners expect the network to eventually support long-distance green hydrogen transport to major economic centers further afield, including the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region.

By establishing an integrated model that unifies renewable hydrogen generation, pipeline delivery and industrial consumption, the project lays the groundwork for China's full-chain hydrogen development strategy.