China is using LNG cold energy to grow high-quality seafood and wants to reduce its dependence on overseas

An experimental project in China has successfully farmed high-value marine species such as grouper, lobster and abalone by using cold energy from liquefied natural gas (LNG) to diversify its seafood sources and reduce dependence on overseas.

The trial, which uses cold energy produced by heat exchange between seawater and LNG, took place at an LNG receiving terminal in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, the state asset regulator said on its official social media account on Thursday.

The project is estimated to achieve an annual production of 50 tons and reduce costs by about 30 percent compared to conventional farming methods, the State Property Supervision and Administration Commission said.

The project, launched in December 2022, introduced its first batch of juveniles a year later before successfully delivering fish in January, according to a January People's Daily report.

King prawns and lobsters on offer as rural Xinjiang develops seawater aqua farming

“Currently, lobsters in the food market are mainly imported from abroad. The project aims to replace imported high-quality seafood products through artificial propagation,” the WeChat post said.

The project is another step in China's ongoing efforts to reduce its reliance on seafood imports as the country places increasing emphasis on food security amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region inland said in August It had used its salinity – a mixture of salt and water – to begin developing seawater aqua farming, including freshwater fish, king prawns, abalone and lobsters

Because it is an extremely popular product among the Chinese middle class, the domestic lobster market has traditionally relied on imports from Australia, the United States and New Zealand.

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Beijing unofficially banned lobster imports from Australia in 2020 in response to calls from Canberra for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus.

Before the ban, more than half of China's lobster imports in 2019 came from Australia.

According to the social media post, the Shenzhen LNG terminal can provide a continuous supply of sterile, low-temperature seawater, which can improve the meat quality of the high-quality seafood and ensure year-round supply.

In high-quality fish farming, temperature control is the largest cost factor. State Asset Supervision and Management Commission

Other automated techniques such as different temperature controls and central ventilation were also integrated into the project to enrich the diversity of species grown, reduce costs and increase efficiency.

“In high-value fish farming, temperature control is the largest cost factor,” the article states.

When LNG evaporates, a significant amount of cold energy is released into the water, reducing the water temperature by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius (37.4 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit), which is “particularly suitable for the growth of high-quality aquatic life.” .

While the project ensures a stable water supply, it also relies on a scientific circulation system designed to avoid disruption to the marine environment, the watchdog's post added.

It also praised the project as a “green, low-carbon and circular economy”, adding that the cold energy generated would be equivalent to electricity savings of 1.97 million kilowatt hours per year, which would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,800 tonnes.