Sinopec starts expansion of Shijiazhuang refinery

China’s state-owned refining giant Sinopec started the expansion of its 5 million metric ton per year (MTPY) Shijiazhuang refinery in Hebei province, China Petrochemical News reported. After the expansion, which was approved by China’s top economic policy planner National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) at the end of 2009, the refinery’s installed capacity will rise to 8 million MTPY from the current 5 million MTPY. The 6.37 billion yuan (US$932.5 million) project is expected to be complete by 2012, Sinopec’s official news web site reported. Once the new units come on stream, the refinery plans to idle an existing 2 million MTPY crude distillation unit, a source close to the refinery said. (June 1, 2010)