On 4 September 2008, the Shenzhen Bureau of Trade and Industry declared YICT to be an Outstanding Energy-saving Enterprise. YICT was the only enterprise from Shenzhen's port industry to be so honoured.
Diesel fuel and electricity are the port's two major energy resources. To minimise the impact of port operations on the environment, YICT carried out an analysis of its latest energy consumption levels and accordingly applied new technologies to its port facilities and implemented energy-saving measures.
In particular, YICT noted that rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGCs) were consuming up to 60 percent of the port's total diesel fuel. YICT subsequently implemented several countermeasures, including the replacement of the cranes’ diesel engines with electric engines. YICT is also able to save 4.3 million kWh of electricity every year by adopting measures to conserve electricity. As a result, in the first half of 2007, YICT's unit consumption of energy was reduced by over 10 percent in terms of tonne of coal equivalent (TCE)/TEU and of kWh/TEU when compared to the same period of 2004.
Prior to receiving the distinction from the Bureau, YICT had already passed an energy saving evaluation by the Shenzhen Municipal Government and been awarded RMB100,000 for its efforts to conserve energy.