China’s Qinzhou port launches crude terminal

Qinzhou port in southwest China commenced operations of a new crude oil terminal capable of berthing very large crude carriers (VLCCs) this month.

The VLCC New Wealth discharged its first crude cargo at a VLCC berth at the new terminal on 5 November, after arriving from Hong Kong.

The terminal is also currently the biggest one built in the Beibu Gulf region in the western part of the South China Sea. The throughput capacity of the VLCC berth is 9.9mn t/yr.

The terminal will primarily serve PetroChina's 200,000 b/d Qinzhou refinery in Guangxi province.

PetroChina is also building a new crude oil terminal in Jieyang, Guangdong province, to serve its 400,000 b/d Jieyang refinery. The construction of the terminal is targeted to be completed by next month. The terminal will include a berth capable of discharging 2mn bl for VLCC vessels.

PetroChina is also targeting completion of some key refinery units at Jieyang next month but start-up is still expected to take place in 2022. PetroChina is building a 32.7mn bl commercial crude storage facility to serve the refinery.