China plans to complete construction of fifth Antarctic station by 2022

Almaty. November 8. Silkroadnews - China plans to complete the construction of the fifth Antarctic station by 2022, Xinhua News Agency reported.
“China plans to finish its fifth station in the Antarctic in next five years, said Yang Huigen, director of the Polar Research Institute of China,” the report said.
It is noted that the icebreaker Xuelong will leave Shanghai and begin the 34th Antarctic expedition on Wednesday.
One of the key objectives of this expedition made of 334 members, is to start construction of a new year-round research station on Inexpressible Island in the Terra Nova Bay of the Ross Sea.
The new base will fill in the gap in China’s Antarctic research, since the Great Wall and Zhongshan stations cover different directions, one towards the Atlantic and the other towards the Indian Ocean.
The Ross Sea, facing the South Pacific, includes the largest ice shelf on the continent and is considered the least disturbed marine ecosystem with a rich marine fauna.
China also has two summer stations - Taishan and Kunlun.
The new base will have facilities for emergency rescue, it will be equipped with satellite communications, electricity, water, heating and transport, including small aircraft and helicopters.
During the forthcoming expedition, scientists and engineers will start creating temporary docks and shelters, unloading equipment and surveying the surrounding landscape and waters.