According to Jiang Qian, deputy dean of Transport Planning and Research Institute of the Ministry of Communications, the construction of wharves is haphazard due to the disorganized project-approval system and lack of consultation.

　　As a result, there are far more smaller wharves than needed andnot enough larger wharves which are urgently required for crude oil importation which is on the rise, she noted.

　　Statistics show that there are 44 crude oil wharves in China, only seven of which can cope with more than 100,000 DWT. The wharves are mainly located in Dalian (Liaoning), Qingdao (Shandong), Ningbo (Zhejiang), Zhoushan (Zhejiang) and Maoming (Guangdong). 　　

　　In addition, there are more than 380 oil products wharves in the country, but only 99 of these have the capacity to deal with more than 10,000 DWT.

　　The construction of large crude oil wharves will raise the efficiency of the importation of crude oil and will meet the need to increase national oil stocks.

　　Jiang hopes that the Ministry of Communications will bring moreorder to the approval system for wharf construction.

　　Customs figures show that China imported more than 70 million tons of crude oil in 2000 and 60 million tons in 2001. Estimates put 2005's crude oil import at 100-110 million tons.