Beihai LNG Terminal — concise overview of its location, capacity, and recent project phases. A practical guide for energy professionals, port planners, and SEO-driven publishers.

INTRODUCTION

SEO Snippet: Quick primer on Beihai LNG Terminal — what it is, why it matters to China’s southern gas network, and the topics covered in this article.

Beihai LNG Terminal is an import and regasification facility in Guangxi province that serves southern China’s growing gas demand. This article breaks down the terminal’s history, operator (PipeChina), capacity and development phases, its exact location and logistics links, plus related terminals (Tianjin) and port projects (Beilun Container Terminal Phase 4). Each section contains a short SEO-optimized summary, LSI keywords, and one or two vetted external links for deeper research.

LSI Keywords: Beihai LNG receiving terminal, Guangxi LNG import, LNG import China, regasification terminal, PipeChina Beihai.
External links:

• <a href="https://www.offshore-technology.com/marketdata/beihai-lng-regasification-terminal-china/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Beihai LNG Regasification Terminal — Offshore-Technology</a>

BEIHAI LNG TERMINAL

SEO Snippet: Core facts: Beihai is an operational LNG receiving and regasification terminal serving Guangxi and nearby provinces.

Located in Guangxi’s Beihai city, the Beihai LNG Terminal functions as a coastal import hub where liquefied natural gas is received, stored, and converted back into gaseous form for distribution. It was developed to bolster gas supplies to southern China and to provide greater flexibility for LNG carriers calling in the Gulf of Tonkin region. The facility originally started operations in the mid-2010s and has subsequently expanded in phases to increase storage and send-out capacity. Key facts regularly reported by industry trackers state the terminal’s nameplate receiving capacity and the on-site storage configuration (see sources below). Offshore TechnologyLNG Prime

Why it matters: Beihai sits strategically near ASEAN shipping lanes and is part of China’s plan to diversify import and midstream infrastructure under PipeChina. Its capacity and connectivity support local industry and seasonal demand balancing.

LSI Keywords: LNG receiving terminal, Beihai port LNG, regasification capacity, Gulf of Tonkin LNG.
External links:

• <a href="https://www.lngprime.com/lng-terminals/second-phase-of-pipechinas-beihai-lng-terminal-nears-launch/133686/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Second phase overview — LNG Prime</a>

GUANGXI BEIHAI LNG TERMINAL

SEO Snippet: Regional role — how Beihai supplies Guangxi and integrates into regional gas networks.

Beihai is the principal LNG import facility serving Guangxi province and acts as a regional hub for the southwest coastal gas network. Its regasified output is fed into local pipeline stretches and can supply industrial clusters and city gas distributors across Guangxi and adjacent provinces. The terminal’s strategic siting in the Tieshan Port Industrial Zone (Beihai) optimizes marine access for LNG carriers and short pipeline runs to industrial users.

Operational notes: Operators and analysts have emphasized Beihai’s role as a complementary receiving terminal to larger northern and eastern facilities — enabling supply diversity and seasonal rebalancing. LNG Prime

LSI Keywords: Guangxi LNG supply, Tieshan Port LNG, Beihai regasification, Guangxi gas network.
External links:

• <a href="https://www.gocomet.com/ports/china/beihai/sailing-schedule" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Beihai Port overview — GoComet</a>

PIPECHINA BEIHAI LNG TERMINAL

SEO Snippet: The facility is strategically tied into China’s midstream gas network through PipeChina’s operational oversight.

The Beihai LNG terminal is among several facilities now overseen by PipeChina, following the state-led reallocation of assets from major national oil firms. The company’s portfolio spans pipelines and LNG receiving stations across China. Since PipeChina took over midstream assets, it has been developing spare capacity initiatives and bidding rounds to attract third-party LNG users. The terminal’s expansion (second phase) has been part of PipeChina’s broader strategy to increase import flexibility and open market access. S&P GlobalLNG Prime

Operational shift: Under PipeChina, terminals like Beihai are expected to operate with clearer third-party access policies and standardized slot auctions to improve market liquidity.

LSI Keywords: PipeChina terminals, PLTMC, China LNG midstream, third-party terminal slots.
External links:

• <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/news-research/latest-news/lng/030625-pipechina-opens-2025-lng-terminal-slot-bidding-to-boost-market-access" target="_blank">PipeChina 2025 slots — S&P Global (high authority)</a>

BEIHAI LNG TERMINAL CHINA

SEO Snippet: National significance — how Beihai fits into China’s national LNG import capacity and energy security.

Beihai contributes to China’s coastal receiving capacity and plays a supportive role for southern energy demand. China’s strategy has been to build and operate a geographically diverse set of import terminals to reduce delivery risk and provide redundancy — Beihai is part of that network. Beyond purely local supply, Beihai offers berth access suitable for a wide range of LNG carriers, which helps attract international suppliers. Industry reports cite Beihai’s role in accepting larger carriers and increasing regional flexibility. LNG Prime

LSI Keywords: China LNG imports, southern China terminals, energy security China, LNG carrier access.
External links:

• <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/world/pipechina-halts-construction-at-beihai-lng-terminal-after-fire-kills-five-idUSKBN27J0NP/" target="_blank">Historic incident & FYI — Reuters (high authority)</a>

BEIHAI LNG TERMINAL LOCATION

SEO Snippet: Precise location, port area, and geostrategic advantages.

Geographically, the Beihai LNG terminal sits within Guangxi’s Tieshan Port Industrial Zone, positioned along the northeastern edge of the Gulf of Tonkin. The site sits within an industrial port cluster with good marine approach channels and is roughly 60 nautical miles from the China–Vietnam maritime boundary, making it a logical southern reception point for LNG shipments from diverse origins.

Logistics & access: A consolidated artificial island, approach dike and berth facilities enable a range of ship sizes to safely call. Locational advantages include shorter bunker runs from Asian suppliers and proximity to south China consumers. For coordinates and port area details, industry locators and the Global Energy Observatory provide useful geodata. globalenergyobservatory.orgGoComet

LSI Keywords: Tieshan Port, Beihai port coordinates, Gulf of Tonkin LNG, Beihai berth.
External links:

• <a href="https://www.globalenergyobservatory.org/geoid/46340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Beihai Sinopec LNG Terminal — Global Energy Observatory</a>

TIANJIN LNG TERMINAL

SEO Snippet: Comparative look — Tianjin terminal overview and why it’s relevant to an article on Beihai.

Although geographically distant from Beihai, Tianjin’s LNG terminals offer a useful comparison: Tianjin is a mature northern hub (including FSRU-to-onshore transitions) that highlights different delivery patterns and market roles in China. China’s LNG network ranges from northern (Tianjin, Dalian) to southern terminals (Beihai, Yuedong, Hainan), providing a nation-wide balancing mechanism for seasonal demand and price arbitrage.

Key point: Comparing Beihai and Tianjin illustrates how China uses a distributed terminal network to secure supply, route flexibility and local price stability. For an operator’s list and terminal details, public trackers and PipeChina asset summaries are primary references. Global Energy Monitorglobalenergyinfrastructure.com

LSI Keywords: Tianjin LNG terminal, Tianjin FSRU, north China LNG, Tianjin regasification.
External links:

• <a href="https://www.gem.wiki/Tianjin_LNG_Terminal_%28PipeChina%29" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tianjin LNG Terminal — Global Energy Monitor</a>

BEILUN CONTAINER TERMINAL PHASE 4

SEO Snippet: Why a container terminal discussion belongs here — Beilun Phase 4 affects regional logistics and LNG carrier traffic patterns.

Beilun Container Terminal (Ningbo-Zhoushan port system) Phase 4 is a major container expansion with implications for shipping schedules, berth availability and cargo diversions in China’s eastern seaboard. Although physically separate from Beihai, container terminal disruptions and capacity changes (e.g., Phase 4 operations) can influence broader maritime traffic in the region — affecting scheduling windows for LNG carriers, bunker logistics and liner routing decisions.

Operational note: Major carriers (e.g., Maersk) have rerouted or adjusted calls to Beilun Phase 4 during terminal updates; updates from carriers and port authorities provide practical navigation planning information. MaerskContainer xChange

LSI Keywords: Beilun Phase 4, Ningbo Beilun terminal, container port expansion, port operations Ningbo.
External links:

• <a href="https://www.maersk.com/news/articles/2021/05/17/dragon-ningbo-terminal-change-from-tn-to-j4" target="_blank">Beilun Phase 4 service update — Maersk</a>

BEIHAI LNG TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT & CAPACITY (PROJECT STATUS)

SEO Snippet: Phase updates, storage tank additions, notable milestones and safety incidents.

Development timeline highlights: Beihai’s construction began in the 2010s, with trial operations and first commercial receipts recorded mid-decade. The terminal’s initial capacity and storage footprint has been expanded in multiple phases. In September 2023, construction at Beihai’s LNG terminal reached a milestone with the installation of roofs on two massive 200,000-cubic-meter tanks. This step forms part of the facility’s second-phase expansion, designed to boost both storage availability and the site’s future send-out rates. Industry trackers also recorded temporary work stoppages after past construction incidents (e.g., a 2020 fire that paused construction). More recently (2024–2025), PipeChina moved parts of the project into commissioning preparation and the terminal continues to register international ship calls. LNG Prime+1Reuters

According to publicly available industry data, the Beihai LNG terminal was initially designed to receive around 6 million tonnes per year (mtpa). The site houses several storage tanks with a combined capacity in the hundreds of thousands of cubic meters, and ongoing expansions are gradually adding both storage space and operational flexibility. Offshore Technology

LSI Keywords: Beihai second phase, LNG storage tanks 200000 cbm, Beihai capacity, commissioning Beihai.
External links:

• <a href="https://lngprime.com/asia/pipechina-roofs-raised-on-two-beihai-lng-tanks/92251/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Roofs raised on tanks — LNGPrime</a>

EXPANDED FAQs (PRACTICAL + SEO-FRIENDLY QUESTIONS)

SEO Snippet: Short, usable Q&A to capture search intent and improve on-page relevance.

Q1 — What is the current capacity of Beihai LNG Terminal?
A1 — Public industry reports list a baseline import capacity historically close to 6 mtpa with initial storage totalling roughly 640,000 cbm across multiple tanks; expansions raise aggregate storage and potential throughput. LNG PrimeOffshore Technology

Q2 — Who operates the Beihai terminal?
A2 — Beihai now falls under PipeChina’s broader LNG terminal portfolio, following the transfer of assets from other state-owned energy firms. The company continues to oversee project commissioning and allocate terminal slots across its growing network. S&P Global

Q3 — Has Beihai handled large LNG carriers?
A3 — Yes — reports show Q-Flex class carriers have called the terminal, demonstrating berth capability for large LNG carriers. LNG Prime

Q4 — Are there safety or construction incidents to be aware of?
A4 — A serious construction fire in 2020 halted works temporarily and is part of the public record; subsequent phases resumed under stricter controls. Reuters

Q5 — How does Beihai connect to China’s gas network?
A5 — Beihai’s regasified gas feeds into regional pipelines serving Guangxi and adjacent provinces; PipeChina coordinates slot allocation and network integration. S&P Global

LSI Keywords for FAQs: Beihai FAQ, Beihai capacity question, PipeChina Beihai FAQs, LNG carrier calls.

CONCLUSION

SEO Snippet: Beihai is a strategically sited, PipeChina-operated LNG import terminal with growing capacity and regional importance.

Beihai LNG Terminal plays a significant role in southern China’s gas delivery network: geographically strategic, involved in phased capacity increases, and integrated into PipeChina’s national midstream portfolio. For publishers and energy analysts, the terminal provides a useful case study of China’s approach to diversifying LNG receipt points, balancing seasonal demand and enabling third-party access. The most load-bearing public facts about capacity, recent construction milestones and operator arrangements are documented in the cited industry pieces above — use those primary sources for updates and for embedding authoritative links on the site.

LSI Keywords: Beihai summary, LNG terminal conclusion, PipeChina terminal overview.
External links (editorial reference):

• <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/tanker-with-sanctioned-russian-arctic-lng-2-cargo-berths-china-tracking-data-2025-08-28/" target="_blank">Recent vessel call — Reuters (high authority)</a>
• <a href="https://www.lngprime.com/lng-terminals/second-phase-of-pipechinas-beihai-lng-terminal-nears-launch/133686/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Project status & commissioning prep — LNG Prime</a>

Key sources used in this report:

• include LNG Prime, which provided updates on the second-phase construction milestones at Beihai, particularly details on storage tanks and the commissioning timeline. LNG Prime
• LNGPrime (tank roof lift story) — construction detail about two 200,000-cbm tanks. LNG Prime
• Reuters — recent vessel calls and notable news (e.g., Arctic LNG-2 cargo berthing at Beihai). Reuters
• S&P Global / industry trackers — PipeChina operational policies and slot bidding (explains operator role). S&P Global
• Offshore-Technology / Global Energy Observatory — baseline technical descriptions and capacity summaries. Offshore Technologyglobalenergyobservatory.org