Huanghua port, China's largest coal transportation hub, has commenced its fourth expansion to reinforce its pivotal role in securing energy supply, state media CCTV reported, citing its operator China Energy Investment Corporation Co., Ltd. on March 17.

The project will add four 70,000-tonne coal loading berths, 18 30,000-tonne coal storage silos, and two railcar unloading systems.

Upon completion, the port's annual coal throughput capacity will climb from 210 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 260 Mtpa, while storage capacity will expand from 4.6 Mtpa to 5.14 Mtpa.

Positioned as a heart for the nation's "West-to-East" and "North-to-South" coal shipments, Huanghua port in northern Hebei province handles over 200 million tonnes of coal each year, accounting for about 30% of China's total coal dispatches.

With 104 berths capable of anchoring vessels above 10,000 tonnes, the port's cumulative coal handlings have surpassed 3 billion tonnes since its 2001 commission, underpinning stable electricity and energy supply across various regions.

Huanghua port shipped out 700,000 tonnes of coal in 24 hours ended early morning of March 18, up 40% from the previous day and 12.9% from a week ago, Sxcoal data showed. The port received 630,000 tonnes of coal via railways in the same period, falling 3.08% both on the day and on the week.