CNPC to set up new energy research center in Nanchong, Sichuan

China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), China’s largest oil and gas producer, plans to set up a new energy research center in Nanchong City, in China’s southwestern Sichuan province, as the company has decided to invest some 800 million yuan (US$120.07 million) on a biodiesel production project within the base, according to reports by Caijing Magazine. Fan Fei, an official with the Nanchong City government, was quoted as saying that the biodiesel project has been given approval by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and will start construction by the end of 2010. According to the report, CNPC will also build a fuel ethanol production unit in the second phase. (October 27, 2010)