China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group), one of the
country's oil giants, will import another 80,000 tons of diesel oil
by the end of this month to help guarantee domestic supplies.
The fuel will arrive in two cargoes, one going to the southern
province of Guangdong and the other to the eastern province of
Zhejiang, according to the Guangdong-based New Express
Daily.
The company has imported 383,000 tons of refined products,
including 90,000 tons of gasoline and 298,000 tons of diesel oil,
since September, said the report. The company will still import
another 316,000 tons of refined products next month to ease
domestic shortages. Sinopec was also likely to purchase stockpiles
from private domestic companies at international prices, the report
said.
The government has ordered oil companies to increase production
and imports to avoid emergency fuel shortages.
Shortages have eased since price hikes earlier this month, but
many regions still face a tight diesel market and many filling
stations are experiencing shortages.
(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2007)
