Digging deep: Executives and officials reach for their shovels as the foundation laying ceremony for a new LNG terminal is held at the Yangkou Port Economic Development Zone. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The foundation laying ceremony for the new GCL Huidong Jiangsu Rudong LNG Terminal Project was recently held at the Yangkou Port Economic Development Zone in Rudong county – administered by Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province.

The project is being funded and constructed by GCL Group – the largest private clean energy enterprise in China – and Huidong Investment Holding (Hong Kong) Co Ltd.

Total investment of the first phase is about 5 billion yuan ($694.92 million), which includes a proposed LNG unloading terminal, a loading terminal, two LNG storage tanks of 200,000 cubic meters and other support facilities.

The first phase will have an annual capacity of handling 3 million metric tons (4 billion cu m) of natural gas. It is due to start operating in the middle of 2025. When complete, the entire facility will be a national base for LNG receiving and unloading, reserves, supplies and marketing in Rudong.

According to officials, the project will play a pivotal role in enhancing the natural gas storage and transportation, peak energy sharing, emergency responses and guaranteed capacity of Jiangsu province.

It is also expected to optimize the energy consumption structure of the Yangtze River Delta region, promoting energy conservation and emissions reduction and contributing to building a national natural gas maritime supply channel.

This is the third LNG-receiving terminal to start construction at Yangkou Port. A planned fourth facility, which is currently on its way to being approved, is expected start operating by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period. At that time, the annual LNG receiving and unloading capacity of Yangkou Port will reach 28 million tons.