Construction is accelerating on the first phase of Ordos Fenghao International Energy Co's liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the Otog Banner High-tech Industrial Development Zone.

The construction site.[Photo/Wechat account of Nuan News]

The project, with a total investment of 1 billion yuan ($140 million), is designed to produce 240,000 metric tons of LNG per year. Facilities include a purification and liquefaction unit with a daily processing capacity of 1 million cubic meters, a 20,000-cu-m LNG storage tank, a compressed natural gas decompression facility with a daily processing capacity of 500,000 cu m, and a boil-off gas (BOG) helium extraction system.

According to Lei Yongping, the company's chief engineer, earthworks and civil construction are expected to be completed by October of this year. Once operational, the project will help fill regional gaps in clean energy supply, optimize Otog's energy mix, create nearly 100 local jobs, and generate approximately 80 million yuan in annual tax revenue.

The project has drawn particular attention for its BOG helium extraction technology, which will produce high-purity helium at 99.99 percent or higher, converting previously flared BOG into a valuable resource. This marks a significant step toward more efficient energy utilization and offers a replicable model for integrated resource recovery in the region.