On August 31, 2023, the General Office of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development and the General Office of the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued a notice on solidly promoting the aging and renovation of urban gas pipelines, requiring all regions to accelerate the aging and renovation of urban gas pipelines and plan ahead for the 2024 renovation plan.
The notice requires that all regions should combine with the national urban gas safety special rectification work, accelerate the aging and renovation of urban gas pipelines, accurately fill in gaps and weaknesses, accelerate the elimination of risks and hidden dangers, ensure safe operation, and comprehensively improve the intrinsic safety level of municipal infrastructure such as gas.
The notice emphasizes the need to focus on key areas, distinguish between priority and urgency, and timely improve the aging and renovation plans for urban gas pipelines and other facilities based on a clear understanding of the situation, ensuring that priority is given to the renovation of urban gas pipelines and facilities with prominent safety hazards. Immediate rectification should be organized for the discovered 'problematic hoses', and it is encouraged to replace all rubber hoses in use; Priority should be given to the renovation of the discovered "problematic pipeline network" and timely elimination of hidden dangers.
In terms of financial security, we will notify and support projects with conditions to raise funds for renovation and transformation through multiple channels such as local government special bonds and policy oriented development bank loans, and support professional operating units to adopt market-oriented methods for bond financing.