Sinopec's Tianjin Terminal Operates Near Full Capacity

Sinopec’s Tianjin LNG receiving terminal has unloaded 2.6mn metric tons (mt) of LNG since the start of operation in February, Sinopec said December 18.

As of December 16 it had received 39 LNG vessels and it expected another four by the end of the year. The terminal began commercial operations in February with a cargo from Australia. Its capacity is 3mn mt/year and can supply 4bn m³/yr gas to downstream customers in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong.

In late October, Sinopec received approval from the Tianjin Development and Reform Commission to build the second phase of the terminal, which entails five storage tanks of 220,000 m³ each, as well as gasification and external transportation facilities. Construction is due to start in March 2019 and likely to be finished by December 2021. Late-September, Sinopec completed the construction of a third storage tank at the Tianjin terminal, marking the completion of the first phase of construction.

In addition to its Tianjin terminal, Sinopec operates a terminal at Beihai and at Qingdao in Shandong province. Late-October, Sinopec started work on the second phase of Qingdao import terminal.