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The second phase of the Shihua crude oil terminal in Daxie port area, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, has passed the preliminary design review by the Ministry of Transport.

The government green light, which was given on December 8th, means that the construction of China's largest crude oil terminal has now entered into the stage of actual implementation.

The terminal will be located on the east side of Daxie Island, Ningbo. Its designed annual throughput capacity is 18 million tonnes.

Costing around 190 million yuan (US$ 28.7 million), the construction will include a 450,000dwt jetty and supporting facilities. The terminal will be 490 metres in length.

"As the largest crude oil discharge operation terminal, the construction of the second phase of the crude oil terminal project of Shihua, Daxie port area, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port will further the completion of the transport system of crude oil in the Yangtze Delta Region, strengthen the status and function of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port among the coastal ports of China, meet the needs of the large size of international ships and effectively reduce the cost of transportation while satisfying the increasing needs of crude oil of China," the government of Zhejiang province said in a statement.