Sinopec Expands Tianjin Terminal
China's Sinopec has completed the construction of a third storage tank at its Tianjin LNG import terminal, marking the completion of the first phase of construction, it said September 25.
In its first phase, the terminal's capacity is 3 million tons/year, can supply 4bn m3/yr gas to downstream customers in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong, and is expected to ease gas shortages in north China. The Tianjin LNG receiving station is connected with the Sinopec Shandong natural gas pipeline network.
The terminal began commercial operations in February with a cargo received from Australia. Since its start-up, the Tianjin terminal has unloaded 22 cargoes or 1.46mn mt of LNG.
In addition to its Tianjin terminal, Sinopec operates two more terminals at Beihai and Qingdao. Sinopec gave no details of what any subsequent phase of construction at Tianjin might involve.
Prior to completion of the terminal earlier this year, a floating LNG import terminal was operated by CNOOC in recent winters - namely FSRU GDF Suez Cape Ann - but this has now re-located to India.