There probably are ways to do it using modular components. They did this with natural gas power plants (see Wartsila power plants for example.) In that case, you can probably get it down to 2-3 years.
Natural gas power plants are relatively modular, and we can chain together units to make a bigger power plant. There is no such equivalent modular unit for petroleum processing. Each plant is highly customised to deal with a specific mix of different kinds of input oil, and to deliver a specific mix of output petroleom products. They can be reconfigured within a narrow range, but they're not highly flexible.
We have an EPA. China doesn't. It's easier to build these things in places where people are too poor to care about the environment or don't get to (because their governments don't) care about the environment.
China has environmental protection agencies, they just aren't so incompetent that they take a decade to process a application.
"The competent department of environmental protection administration under the State Council shall conduct unified supervision and management of the environmental protection work throughout the country."
If the Chinese agency plays the delay, deny and harass game they will likely be replaced by an agency that is capable of protecting the environment without standing in the way of industrial progress.
When the EPA plays the delay, deny and harass game they amass brownie points with politicians.
Likewise it's probably safe to assume that the Chinese agency is much more set up (and well practiced at) making sure things actually get done on defensible timelines.
It's more than just the environment. The more engineers & scientists you have, the faster you can build it. The more people you're willing to crush beneath your wheels, the faster you can build it.
