Concrete pouring for the bearing platforms of five 270,000-cubic-meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks in phase II of Zhuhai Jinwan LNG Station was completed on May 27 after 120 days of construction.

Each platform is 100.6 m (110 yd) in diameter and has a depth of 1.4 m (4.59 ft) at the center and 1.6 m (5.2 ft) on the edges. Altogether 59,050 cu m of concrete will be used for the platforms, equal to the volume of 25 standard Olympic swimming pools.

Concrete pouring site for bearing platforms [Photo by Zhang Zhou / Zhuhai Daily]

The phase II project will help to boost China's natural gas production, supply, storage, and sale as well as improve domestic oil and gas infrastructure. The five storage tanks are the largest of their kind anywhere in the world and were independently designed and constructed within China.

Upon operation, the station will become the largest LNG storage and transport base in South China, providing continuous and stable clean energy for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

It will be able to handle 7 million metric tons of LNG, equivalent to 10 billion cu m gaseous natural gas, which is estimated to meet the demand of 27.77 million households for one year if each household uses 30 cu m of gaseous natural gas per month. 

In addition, 10 billion cu m of gaseous natural gas can generate 50 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 33.52 million tons and sulfur dioxide emissions by 270,000 tons, the equivalent of planting 70 million trees.