Our History
CLP was founded in Hong Kong in 1901, when electricity was still a novelty. Today we power millions of homes and businesses across the Asia-Pacific region.
1901-1945
Dawn of Electrification
1901
- Incorporation of China Light & Power Company Syndicate on 25 January in Hong Kong.
1903
- Commissioning of the first power station with a generating capacity of 75kW on Chatham Road, Hung Hom.
1919
- Started to supply electricity for street lighting in Kowloon.
1940
- Opening of Hok Un “A” Power Station.
- Inauguration of Argyle Street Head Office.
1945 - 1964
Rekindling Light and Power
1945
- Vital repairs to electricity infrastructure after the end of World War II and gradual restoration of power supply.
1959
- Commissioning of Hok Un “B” Power Station.
1961
- Beginning of Rural Electrification Scheme to expand electricity supply to the remote villages in the New Territories and outlying islands.
1964 - 1979
From Strength to Strength
1964
- Formation of Castle Peak Power Company Limited (CAPCO), jointly owned by CLP and Esso (now ExxonMobil Energy Limited).
1966
- Inauguration of Hok Un “C” Power Station.
1969
- Commissioning of the 1,520MW Tsing Yi Power Station.
1979 – 2004
Exploring New Horizons
1979
- Began to supply electricity to Guangdong Province after a power interconnection agreement was reached with the Guangdong power grid.
1982
- Castle Peak Power Station “A” in Hong Kong began operations.
1985
- Started building a nuclear power station in Daya Bay in Guangdong Province together with joint venture partner Guangdong Nuclear Investment Company. The plant was commissioned in 1994.
1996
- Black Point Power Station in Hong Kong started operations.
- Invested in Ho-Ping Power Station in Taiwan.
1998
- Formation of CLP Holdings following a company reorganisation.
- Strategic investment in Electricity Generating Public Company Limited in Thailand.
2001
- Acquisition of a majority stake in Yallourn Energy, CLP’s first investment in Australia’s electricity market.
2002
- Acquisition of Paguthan Combined Cycle Power Plant, CLP’s first investment in India’s electricity market.
2004 - Present
Sustainable Growth with Purpose
2004
- Issued Manifesto on Air Quality and Climate Change and announced the target of increasing renewable energy generation to 5% of portfolio by 2010. The target was met in December 2007, three years ahead of schedule.
2007
- Published Climate Vision 2050, becoming the first power company in Asia-Pacific to set voluntary targets to reduce carbon intensity.
2009
- Added to the Global Dow and Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes.
2010
- Met Climate Vision 2050 target to reduce carbon intensity to 0.8kg CO2/kWh.
2011
- Completed the acquisition of EnergyAustralia’s retail business.
2014
- Collaborated with China Southern Power Grid to each acquire half of ExxonMobil’s 60% interest in CAPCO. CLP also completed the acquisition of ExxonMobil’s 51% stake in Hong Kong Pumped Storage Development Company, Limited.
2015
- Issued its first green bond to fund wind energy projects in India.
2017
- Launched Climate Action Finance Framework for financing of investments to support the transition to a lower-carbon future.
2018
- Introduced Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec as a strategic 40% shareholder of CLP India (renamed Apraava Energy in 2021).
2019
- Pledged not to invest in any additional coal-fired generation capacity and to progressively phase out all remaining coal assets by 2050 under updated Climate Vision 2050.