A 450,000-tonnage terminal of Ningbo Shihua Crude Oil Terminal Co Ltd, Asia's largest crude oil terminal, was formally opened in Daxie, Ningbo, Zhejiang province, chinanews.com reported May 16.

With a length of up to 490 meters, a designed annual throughput volume of 17 million tons, and the ability to anchor 20,000-450,000 tonnage crude oil tankers, the newly built berth is the largest crude oil terminal of China, as well as Asia, the report said.

According to the report, the project was approved in September 2010 by the National Development and Reform Commission and put into trial production in October 2011. During the testing process, 16 oil cargo tankers (14 of which were very large crude carriers) anchored safely, with a handling capacity of over 3.36 tons.

With the berth officially enabled, the number of berths in the Daxie marine area has reached 17 and the designed oil throughput capacity exceeds 70 million tons. As the report noted, it effectively enhances the strategic position of Ningbo as a crude oil transit base, greatly easing current tensions regarding China's crude oil transportation.