INVESTMENT in ports of northern Hebei province has reached CNY12.33 billion (US$2.02 billion) in the first nine months, accounting for 72.5 per cent of its annual objective, reports Xinhua.

A total of 12 projects in Huanghua port have started construction, with the investment reaching CNY6.01 billion. Tangshan port's investment reached CNY6.15 billion to be split among 14 projects with CNY170 million devoted to Qinhuangdao port.

Coal port area phase 3 project in Huanghua port has been put into operation. Phase 1 projects of 200,000-tonne navigational channels in the comprehensive port area and bulk cargo area have started construction, entailing an investment of CNY630 million.

No 26 and No 27 specialised container berths in Jingtang port area of Tangshan port have started building with investment of CNY120 million, and CNY406 million has been earmarked for No 36 and No 40 coal berths.