Milestones
As a Hong Kong-based utility company, Towngas has been serving the local community for more than 140 years. Building on our many achievements over the years, we are now expanding the scope of our businesses into China.
1862 1973 1992 2000 2006 2012
1967 Feedstock for the production of town gas changed from coal to heavy oil.
1960 Towngas Company shares were listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
1956 The new gasholder at Ma Tau Kok began operations.
1864 Commenced supplies of town gas in Hong Kong.
Gas supply mains consisting of 24-km of pipelines were connected to 500 street lamps and selected buildings.
1862 The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) was founded in the United Kingdom.
1986 Commissioned Phase One of Tai Po Plant.
1983 Mr Lee Shau Kee became Chairman of the Board of Directors.
1982 Towngas' corporate registration was transferred to Hong Kong.
1975 Supply network established to Chung Hom Kok and Stanley on Hong Kong Island.
First venture with the Hong Kong Housing Authority to supply town gas to a public housing estate in Kowloon.
1973 Naphtha was first introduced as a fuel in the production of town gas.
1999 Launched the Towngas Card, a credit card issued in association with the Bank of East Asia.
Became the first Hong Kong company to use landfill gas from the Shuen Wan Landfill site for commercial applications.
Became the first public utility in Hong Kong to introduce a Virtual Customer Centre.
1998 The establishment of our fourth joint venture in China, Guangzhou Dongyong Hong Kong and China Gas Limited, in the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development District.
U-Tech Engineering Company Limited was established.
1997 Completion of the 3,500 kPa transmission pipeline and distribution network supplying town gas to North Lantau Island and the Hong Kong International Airport.
Commissioning of a 10-km distribution pipeline to supply gas to the Eastern New Territories and Sai Kung.
1996 Our Zhongshan joint venture commenced operations.
Received ISO 9001 certification for our gas transportation activities.
Launched our Continuing Transformation Programme.
1995 The Panyu joint venture. Our first city gas joint venture on the mainland commenced operations.
We received three further ISO 9002 certificates for our Tuen Mun Substitute Natural Gas (SNG), Ma Tau Kok and Tai Po gas production plants.
Completed the conversion of SNG into town gas in Tuen Mun.
Implemented the launch of our Regular Safety Inspection Programme.
Introduced the Towngas Concession Scheme for the Elderly.
1994 Our domestic operations received ISO 9002 certification.
Began the installation of the 3,500 kPa transmission pipeline from Route Twisk to Tai Ho on Lantau Island.
The new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system was introduced. The system monitors and controls over 1,800 real-time telemetered points as well as all our strategic pressure-regulating stations throughout the territory.
The Towngas Service Pledge was established.
1993 Customer Focus Team was introduced.
1992 Our quality improvement "Superior Quality Service Programme" was set up.
The Towngas Environmental Working Group was established.
2005 Established Wujiang Hong Kong and China Water Company Limited, the first of our water supply joint ventures.
2004 Introduced natural gas to Yixing manufacture industry and improved the air quality in the territory, which was recognised by receiving the national award.
2003 The Chinese government approved the establishment of our Towngas Nanjing joint venture, which is the first provincial grade JV.
Established the second provincial grade JV in Wuhan province.
2002 Established "The Hong Kong and China Investments Limited" to oversee the business development in mainland China.
Our gas pipeline network in Hong Kong grew to over 3,000km with new pipelines reaching out to the Science Park alongside Tolo Harbour and the Cyperport Complex at Telegraph Bay.
Began the extension of our pipelines to the Hong Kong International Theme Park on Lantau Island.
2001 New ECO stations were opened in Mei Foo and Tuen Mun.
Our customer numbers grew to 1.4 million in Hong Kong.
We opened our first Towngas Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Piped city-gas project was extended out of Guangdong province to Jiangsu and Shandong provinces.
2000 Our Tai Po Gas Production Plant received ISO 14001 Certification.
Received a 3% equity in the Guangdong Liquefied Natural Gas Receiving Terminal and Trunkline Project.
Established a training centre at Dongyong in Guangzhou.
Established GH-Fushion Ltd. to manufacture polyethylene fittings for gas and water pipe systems in China.
Received the contract to design, construct and operate two dedicated liquefied petroleum gas filling stations (ECO stations) at West Kowloon and Chai Wan. ECO Energy Company Limited (now renamed ECO Environmental Investments Limited) formed to operate these stations.
Launched TGC, our own in-house brand of diversified and top quality gas appliances.
Initiated the production of dry ice at our Tai Po Plant, utilising carbon dioxide emitted during the gas production process.
Launched our bimonthly billing scheme.
Set up District Council Focus Teams to enhance communications with Hong Kong's 18 District Councils.
2011 Issued first Chinese Renminbi Bond.
Guaranteed HKCG (Finance) Limited HK$3.8 billion 5-Year term loan and revolving credit facility.
Commissioned ECO’s Coal-based methanol plant in Inner Mongolia.
Launched Towngas Telecommunications Company Limited’s Data centre in Jinan.
2010 Commissioned ECO's aviation fuel facility in Tuen Mun.
Launched our Kitchen consultancy and design service - Mia Cucina.
Opened a new Flame restaurant at Towngas Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Launched new high-efficient Lotus flame built-in hob.
2009 Launched "Low Carbon Action!" campaign to encourage the public taking actions and leading a low-carbon lifestyle.
Commissioned ECO's liquefied coalbed methane plant in Jincheng, Shanxi province.
Towngas Group operates 100 projects in 19 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in mainland China.
2008 Launched the Towngas Consession Scheme for Single-parent Families.
ECO Energy Company Limited became ECO Environmental Investments Limited, expanding its scope to develop new eco-energy businesses on the mainland.
Commissioned the first Compressed Natural Gas filling station in Shaanxi province.
2007 Sold our 100,000th Bauhinia appliance in mainland China.
Commissioned the Northeast New Territories landfill gas utilisation project in Ta Kwu Ling.
Unveiled "Cook Easy", our first social enterprise providing a convenient food pack delivery service.
Became the first gas utility in Asia to attain the PAS 55-1:2004 asset management specifications global standard.
2006 The acquisition of Panva Gas Holdings Limited, later renamed Towngas China Company Limited, doubled our projects from 35 in 2005 to 60, with coverage across 15 provinces in mainland China.
Introduced natural gas as a partial feedstock in the production of town gas.
Inaugurated the Xi'an piped city-gas joint venture, our largest investment which provides a gateway to further operations in Northwestern China.
2012 Celebrated Anniversary 150th
Our portfolio on the mainland rose to 150 projects in 22 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions
Set up our first overseas oilfield project in Thailand
Introduced the prestigious Scholtès appliance brand to provide high-end kitchen solutions
