1st underground salt cavern gas storage facility online

China's first underground salt cavern gas storage facility was made operational on Sunday after a major expansion, significantly boosting the country's ability to manage peak demand and ensure energy security, said experts.

The Jintan facility, located in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, was built within a salt mine and utilizes natural salt formations to create stable underground caverns for storing natural gas, said its operator China Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Corp.

The expansion has dramatically increased the facility's operational efficiency, playing a critical role in balancing seasonal fluctuations in gas consumption, said the company, also known as PipeChina, China's largest energy infrastructure enterprise.