China Begins Drilling Its First Natural Hydrogen Exploration Well

Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia — October 8, 2025 — China has officially entered the era of natural hydrogen exploration with the start of drilling on the country’s first dedicated scientific well, Jinhydrogen Ketan 1.

Led by the Peking University Ordos Energy Research Institute and Inner Mongolia Jinhydrogen Geological Exploration Co., Ltd., the project marks China’s transition from theoretical research to practical verification in geologic hydrogen — often referred to as “white” or “golden” hydrogen.

The well, located along the northern margin of the Erlian Basin, has a planned depth of 800 meters and aims to collect foundational geological data and evaluate hydrogen potential in the Xilinhot region.

The initiative was celebrated as a national milestone attended by representatives from Peking University, the China Geological Survey, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), and the Inner Mongolia Department of Science and Technology.

“This project fills a critical gap in China’s energy innovation pathway,” said Academician Jin Zhijun, Director of the Peking University Ordos Energy Research Institute. “Natural hydrogen exploration will play an essential role in ensuring energy security, supporting carbon reduction goals, and shaping the nation’s clean energy future.”

The Jinhydrogen Ketan 1 well represents the centerpiece of a broader regional initiative titled “Inner Mongolia Natural Hydrogen Enrichment Mechanism, Distribution Patterns, and Selection Area Evaluation”, launched in 2024 to position China as a global leader in hydrogen resource science.

The project is jointly supported by public research institutions and industry leaders, including CNPC’s North China Oilfield Branch and Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group, combining national expertise with private-sector innovation to accelerate progress in this new clean energy frontier.

Full press release is below (in Chinese).