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A bird's-eye view of Yangguang Island in Rudong county, Nantong, Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account of Yangkou Port]

In the vast expanse of the south Yellow Sea lies Yangguang Island, the first offshore artificial island in China and the largest clean energy hub in the Yangtze River Delta region. Spanning 3 square kilometers, the island provides one-third of Jiangsu's natural gas supply.

Construction on the island commenced in 2006, and within two years, an industrial port and an energy island began to take shape. The ambitious project has attracted significant investment, with the PetroChina Jiangsu LNG terminal being the first to start operating. Subsequently, projects like the GCL Huidong LNG terminal and the China Resources LNG terminal strengthened the island's status as a hub for clean energy enterprises.

In 2023, the liquid chemical wharf alone saw 418 vessels dock, marking a 263.5 percent surge compared to 2022, and a throughput of 3.42 million tons, reflecting a staggering 778.3-percent rise.

"The future of Yangguang Island is bright," remarked Shao Feng, deputy head of Rudong county and Party official of the Yangkou Port Economic Development Zone. Over the past 12 years, the PetroChina Jiangsu LNG terminal has discharged over 55 million tons of natural gas from 25 countries and regions, contributing over 7 billion yuan in tax revenue to Rudong.

By the end of 2025, the island is projected to receive 26 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually.

To date, the natural gas supplied by Yangguang Island has led to the reduction of approximately 180 million tons of carbon dioxide and 1.5 million tons of sulfur dioxide, making a significant contribution to carbon neutrality and environmental protection in the Yangtze River Delta region.

A ship docks at Yangkou Port in Rudong, Nantong. [Photo/WeChat account of Yangkou Port]