China Air Separation and Nanjing Hongchuan: A “Mutual Pursuit” Spanning 19 Years

On the banks of the Yangtze River, the spring tide is surging. From their initial collaboration in 2006—breaking the ice amid technological monopolies—to today’s pioneering innovations in the green energy sector, the 19-year partnership between China Air Separation and Nanjing Hongchuan is akin to a “mutual journey” that transcends time and space. One is a state-owned enterprise entrusted with the mission of being the “national team”; the other is an industry leader driven by relentless ambition. Guided by shared purpose and anchored in mutual trust, the two companies are jointly writing a new chapter in the advancement of green energy amidst the rolling tides of the Yangtze.

A photo: “Breaking the Ice and Breaking Through” to Shatter Foreign Monopolies

This yellowed photograph of the meeting captures the very beginning of our collaboration. It was a design review session, and the room was packed to capacity. The atmosphere was solemn, as everyone waited anxiously for the final outcome.

Looking back to 2006, China’s domestic low-temperature ethylene storage facilities were deeply mired in a “bottleneck” predicament, having been monopolized for a long time by foreign companies. As a member of the China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH), China Air Separation stepped up to fulfill its mission as the “national team” of the machinery industry, assembling a specialized team and launching a challenging effort to overcome this technological hurdle.

Just as the bidding process for the 20,000 m³ cryogenic ethylene storage facility at the Nanjing Chemical Industry Park was launched, this undoubtedly presents a valuable opportunity. “We’re determined to break the foreign monopoly—we’ll succeed no matter what! Everyone is burning with determination!” Despite their high spirits, domestic companies still have no track record in this field, so it’s only natural that the client, Nanjing Longxiang (now Nanjing Hongchuan), would harbor some skepticism.

To this end, China Air Separation embarked on a series of intense technical negotiations with the client. During those days, everyone carried their laptops and printers every day, analyzing problems, searching for relevant materials, and drafting solutions—often working until two or three in the morning. This high-intensity work continued for more than half a month. In the end, Nanjing Hongchuan was thoroughly impressed by this ever-more-resilient air separation team and entrusted the project to China Air Separation! At the same time, they expressed the original intention behind their collaboration: “Breaking the ice and forging a breakthrough—to shatter the foreign monopoly—our visions perfectly aligned!”

In 2008, China’s first domestically designed and built 20,000 m³ cryogenic ethylene storage tank went into operation, breaking the monopoly held by foreign companies in one fell swoop. As a result, China Air Separation also received numerous prestigious awards, including the Science and Technology Award from the China National Machinery Industry Corporation. This “Made-in-China calling card” has become an enduring testament to mutual trust and responsibility.

A Deep Dive: Delivering a “Hardcore Solution” to Unlock the Low-Temperature Petrochemical Market

With the launch of the second-phase project in 2013, Nanjing Hongchuan once again chose China Air Separation as its partner. Facing numerous challenges—including a tight schedule and complex processes—both teams stood firmly together, weathering storms and sharing both joys and hardships.

“Do you remember those days when we started up the plant after loading the materials? We stayed overnight together, keeping vigil at the site. At three in the morning, we’d climb onto the tops of tanks that were dozens of meters high and crouch down beside valves, carefully inspecting them…” Recalling the scenes from 12 years ago, when they worked side by side, Hu Zhongjie, head of China Air Separation Energy Engineering Company, still remembers it vividly. Back then, driven by an unyielding spirit of overcoming any obstacle, they successfully completed yet another exemplary project, earning a stellar reputation within the industry.

Since then, China Air Separation has steadily and meticulously cultivated the field of cryogenic petrochemical storage and transportation. With the tenacious spirit of “carrying on our shoulders, measuring with our feet, and pulling with our hands,” and driven by a dual-core engine of technology and management, the company has stood out in the fiercely competitive market. It has successfully undertaken numerous large-scale EPC projects one after another, achieving breakthroughs time and again in the large-scale cryogenic petrochemical storage and transportation sector. As a result, it has achieved “full coverage” in four key areas—tank types, storage categories, storage and transportation modes, and storage and transportation functions—thus establishing a complete value chain.

A Banner: A “Craftsmanship Promise” of Value-Driven Services Throughout the Entire Lifecycle of a Project

This banner, emblazoned with the words “Overcome Difficulties to Ensure Progress, and Pursue Excellence Through Craftsmanship,” has become a condensed embodiment of the friendship between the two sides. Gu Jianxin, General Manager of Nanjing Hongchuan, personally presented this banner to Li Jijie, General Manager of China Air Separation, expressing heartfelt gratitude for the air separation team’s outstanding management skills and dedicated work ethic during the maintenance of the Phase I project.

In 2019, the first-phase low-temperature ethylene plant underwent its first major overhaul for routine operations—a milestone that was unprecedented in China. Trust entails responsibility, and responsibility demands accountability! To ensure the successful completion of the task assigned by Hongchuan, China Air Separation specially assembled a “hardcore overhaul team.” Team leader Jiang Wei fearlessly tackled the risk of residual ethylene inside the tank, descending to the 30-meter-deep tank bottom to carry out precise inspections. Ultimately, he successfully completed the entire inspection process, guaranteeing the safe and stable operation of the plant.

Our commitment to excellence and meticulous craftsmanship fully demonstrates the sense of responsibility and dedication of a central state-owned enterprise. Leveraging its leading-edge technology and construction capabilities in the cryogenic field, China Air Separation has taken this maintenance opportunity as a chance to closely align with market demands. Especially in recent years, following the issuance by multiple national departments of the “Work Plan for Phasing Out and Renovating Old Chemical Facilities,” we have further responded to the nation’s call, capitalized on our strengths in providing value-added services throughout the entire lifecycle of engineering projects, and established a specialized team for the inspection and maintenance of cryogenic storage tanks. As a result, we have undertaken numerous large-scale tank maintenance projects, continuously contributing to the revitalization of the industry.

In 2024, the second-phase plant project—operating for ten years—entered its maintenance phase. With continued strong support from Nanjing Hongchuan, China Air Separation meticulously developed a tank inspection and maintenance plan and scientifically scheduled the work procedures. Together, the two sides achieved “zero accidents and completed the project 15 days ahead of schedule,” setting a benchmark for the industry.

A Heartwarming Tale: A “Green Expedition” Moving Forward Toward the New

Looking back, every handshake and collaboration has been a testament to our shared mission. As Zou Qinglong, Assistant to the Chairman of Hongchuan Wisdom and General Manager of East China Operations, put it: “Starting with a single project, China Air Separation won our trust through its strength and sense of responsibility. The partnership between Nanjing Hongchuan and China Air Separation is like a beautiful journey that transcends time and space, writing a remarkable chapter in the energy and petrochemical sector.”

Today, as we stand at the threshold of a new milestone—marking the 20th anniversary of our partnership—Nanjing Hongchuan continues to strive toward becoming a globally leading provider of energy and chemical warehousing and logistics services, while China Air Separation is focusing on the new track of green development, committed to establishing itself as a first-class technology-driven engineering company.

This will once again be a two-way journey of “moving forward into the new.” Looking ahead to future development, Xu Xianghui, Party Secretary and Chairman of China Air Separation, stated: “Hongchuan’s trust is not only a driving force for our progress but also a heavy responsibility on our shoulders. We will work closely together to stay in step with the nation’s green development direction, explore new paths and models, and promote innovation and application in the field of green energy.”

The Yangtze River surges forward, its waters flowing endlessly. From breaking through bottlenecks to tackling technological challenges, from inheriting artisanal craftsmanship to embarking on a green journey—China Air Separation and Nanjing Hongchuan’s 19-year partnership has not only fostered mutual growth for both parties but also, with the sense of responsibility typical of state-owned enterprises and the boldness of private enterprises, injected boundless momentum into the development of green energy.