Construction of a giant China-Kuwait petrochemical project is underway on Donghai Island in the port city of Zhanjiang, in the west of Guangdong province.

Local authorities said the Sinopec and Kuwait Petroleum Corp project is designed to process 15 million tons of crude oil annually and produce more than 1 million tons of ethylene.

The refinery that will use crude oil from Kuwait is due to be completed and operational by 2016. The ethylene production facility is due to start operating in 2017, according to authorities.