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.
CLP's First Power Station
1919
  • Started to supply electricity for street lighting in Kowloon.
1940
  • Opening of Hok Un “A” Power Station.
  • Inauguration of Argyle Street Head Office.
Hok Un Power Station
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.
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.
Black Point Power Station
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.
Paguthan Combined Cycle Power Plant
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.
Customer Services at EnergyAustralia
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.
Celebrating the collaboration between CLP and China Southern Power Grid
2015
  • Issued its first green bond to fund wind energy projects in India.
CLP issued its first green bond
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.