In recent years, the Chinese state-owned energy group has witnessed a series of top executives falling from grace. The National Energy Group is a large state-owned enterprise with assets exceeding two trillion yuan, and in the past year alone, over ten senior executives have been investigated, including former chairman Wang Xiangxi, holding ministerial-level positions.
On August 10, 2026, according to the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the State Supervision Commission of the People’s Republic of China, the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Group of the State Energy Group and the Heilongjiang Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision announced that Sun Dengwei, a member of the Party Committee and Chief Accountant of the Heilongjiang Power Limited Company of the National Energy Group, is under investigation for serious violations of discipline and laws.
Sun Dengwei’s background is not detailed. According to public information, the Heilongjiang Power Limited Company of the National Energy Group was established on August 3, 2021. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Energy Investment Group Limited Liability Company with a registered capital of 4.733 billion yuan. Its main business includes power generation, sales, supply, and heat production, as well as diversified operations in areas such as new energy development, coal mining, and power facility installation.
Two weeks ago, on July 27, 2026, Jin Zhigang, the former Party Secretary and Chairman of the Coal Operation Branch of the National Energy Group, was investigated. Jin Zhigang had served in various positions within the National Energy Group after working for Shenhua Group for many years, including as Deputy General Manager and Chairman of the Sales Group, Party Committee Member, and Chairman of the Coal Operation Branch.
Two months ago, on June 11, 2026, He Zhonghui, the former Party Secretary and Deputy General Manager of the Daduhe Company of the National Energy Group, was also under investigation. He Zhonghui’s background is not detailed.
On June 1, 2026, Liu Hongrong, the former Party Secretary and Chairman of Guangxi Power Limited Company of the National Energy Group, was investigated.
Liu Hongrong had previously served in the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force’s hydropower department as the Deputy Commander of the Third Detachment and the General Economic Officer of the Logistics Department of the Headquarters. After transitioning careers, he held positions such as General Manager of the National Electric Yunnan Amojiang Power Generation Company, Party Committee Member and Deputy General Manager of the National Electric Yunnan Power Limited Liability Company, Party Secretary and Chairman of the Guangxi Power Limited Company of the National Energy Group.
The National Energy Investment Group, also known as the National Energy Group, was formed by the merging and restructuring of the China Guodian Group and the Shenhua Group in August 2017. It is a large state-owned central enterprise primarily engaged in coal mining and sales, power generation, and heat production.
According to its official website, as of the end of 2025, the total assets of the National Energy Group amounted to 2.35 trillion yuan, making it the world’s largest coal production and sales, thermal power generation, wind power generation, and coal-to-oil chemical enterprise.
According to public announcements, more than ten senior executives of the National Energy Group have been investigated since May 2025.
On February 25, 2026, Du Shanzhou, the Party Secretary and Chairman of Pingzhuang Coal Industry Company of the National Energy Group, and Wang Huaihua, former Party Committee Member, Deputy General Manager, and Chairman of the Trade Union of the Supply Company of the Ningxia Coal Industry Company of the National Energy Group, were both investigated on the same day.
On January 12, 2026, Wang Haichun, Manager of the Coal Department of the Coal and Transportation Industry Management Department of the National Energy Group, was investigated.
On January 8, 2026, Zhu Guoqing, former Director of the First Business Division of Henan Power Limited Company of the National Energy Group, was under investigation.
In December 2025, An Lin, former Party Committee Member and Deputy General Manager of the Xinjiang Energy Company of the National Energy Group, was investigated.
In November 2025, Zhou Yong, Party Secretary and Chairman of Wuhai Energy of the National Energy Group, Wei Guojun, Director of the Work Liaison Office for Mengdong Region of Pingzhuang Coal Industry, and Liu Wenquan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager of State Power Zhuhai Port Limited Company, all fell from grace.
In July 2025, Yan Yongsheng, former Director of the First Business Division of the National Energy Group, was investigated.
In May 2025, Zhang Jian, former Deputy Director of the Scientific and Technological Committee of the National Energy Group, was under investigation.
On January 31, 2026, the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China reported that Wang Xiangxi, Party Secretary and Minister of the Ministry of Emergency Management, was “suspected of serious violations of discipline and laws” and was under investigation.
Prior to serving as Minister of the Ministry of Emergency Management, Wang Xiangxi held the position of Chairman of the National Energy Investment Group for over three years from March 2019 to July 2022.
According to public records, Wang Xiangxi, born in August 1962 in Xiantao City, Hubei Province, had a long career in the provincial government of Hubei. He held various positions such as Deputy Director of the Hubei Coal Industry Department, Deputy Director of the Economic and Trade Committee, Director of the Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau, Deputy Secretary and Mayor of Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee, Secretary of the Suizhou Municipal Party Committee, among others.
After Li Hongzhong assumed the position of Secretary of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee following the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Wang Xiangxi was promoted to Secretary-General of the Hubei Provincial Government and served as a member of the Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Group, and Director of the Office of the Provincial Government; he successively served as the chief aide to two Hubei Provincial Governors, Wang Guosheng (February 2011 to July 2016) and Wang Xiaodong (September 2016 to May 2021).
Jiang Chaoliang succeeded Li Hongzhong as Secretary of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee in October 2016. Eight months later, in June 2017, Wang Xiangxi was appointed as a member of the Standing Committee of the Hubei Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of the Communist Party of China, until he was transferred out of Hubei in March 2019; he served as a subordinate under Jiang Chaoliang at the Hubei Provincial Party Committee for one year and nine months.
Jiang Chaoliang fell from grace on February 21, 2025, while serving as Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee; he was investigated on October 27, 2025, for serious disciplinary violations. Wang Xiaodong was also investigated on May 17, 2026, while serving as Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Agriculture and Rural Committee.