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The Greek-flagged tanker MARAN GAS CORONIS arrives at PetroChina's LNG terminal at Yangkou Port on May 27. [Photo/WeChat account: rudongfb]

The Greek-flagged tanker MARAN GAS CORONIS arrived at PetroChina's LNG terminal at Yangkou Port – located in Rudong county in Nantong city, in East China's Jiangsu province – to unload liquefied natural gas on May 27.

As the first of its kind in the coastal area of Jiangsu province, the terminal has received 455 LNG tankers and unloaded a total of 37.6 million tons of liquefied natural gas since its first unloading took place on May 24, 2011.

"Phase III of the LNG Terminal is about to go into operation. By then, the receiving and unloading capacity of the terminal will reach 10 million tons per year," said Chen Lei, deputy secretary of the Rudong Party committee.

According to Chen, as a clean source of energy natural gas plays a significant role in promoting carbon neutrality. The determination of the operators of Yangkou Port to create an "energy island" will contribute to the country's goal of reaching a peak in carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality.

In just 11 days from May 17, the LNG terminal received six tankers and unloaded about 400,000 tons of LNG in total, setting a new record in the frequency of handling ships since it went into operation 10 years ago.

The terminal is regarded as a vital energy supply facility in the Yangtze River Delta region. The gas it supplies is used in all the cities of East China. Downstream users include power plants, as well as urban gas and industrial businesses.

Currently, construction of two 20,000-cubic-meter storage tanks in the third phase of the terminal expansion project has been included in the regional plan called the "outline of the integrated regional development of the Yangtze River Delta".

The storage tanks are expected to start operating before winter this year.