A Maltese-flagged tanker, carrying 158,000 cubic meters of LNG, docks at Yangkou Port on Feb 26. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

In a landmark moment, a Maltese-flagged tanker carrying 158,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas docked at the LNG terminal at Yangkou Port – located in Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province – on Feb 26.

On arrival, the liquefied gas was pumped into the large storage tank of the PetroChina Jiangsu LNG Terminal, where it was converted into gas for delivery to the Yangtze River Delta region.

The procedure marked the 600th ship to unload there since the terminal's first delivery of gas in May 2011. To date, the facility has unloaded natural gas from 25 countries – totaling 50 million metric tons – and exported 70 billion cu m of natural gas, which can provide energy to 100 million households for an estimated 3.8 years.

The PetroChina Jiangsu LNG Terminal is the first national key project on Yangkou Port's Yangguang Island and is rated as a driving force in the promotion of green energy in the Yangtze River Delta region.

As a key force in supporting China's dual-carbon goals, the 70 billion cu m of natural gas exported over the past 12 years have reduced CO2 emissions by about 167 million tons, equivalent to planting 400 million trees.

Currently, there are four LNG receiving station projects being constructed on Yangguang Island. On completion, the annual turnover capacity of Yangkou Port is expected to exceed 20 million tons, generating annual taxable sales of over 100 billion yuan ($14.48 billion).