CNPC to establish biofuels base in Yunnan

China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), parent company of publicly listed PetroChina, recently signed a cooperative contract with Southwest Yunnan province to erect a bio-energy base there. This came after the company decided to build a bio-fuel production base in east China’s Shandong province in early March. The consecutive moves were made while the two other domestic oil majors, Sinopec and CNOOC. As planned, CNPC will establish a cortex Jatrophae grease processing plant here in the future,” said Xiao Hua, an official from Forestry Department of Yunnan province. It was learned that CNPC had informed Yunnan that an area of about 10,000 hectares will be planted with jatropha at a cost of RMB5 million (US$645,661.15 ). It will be established within the year. (March 6, 2007)