China grants CNOOC, affiliates, oil product wholesale licenses

State-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) has been granted an oil products wholesale license for the Chinese mainland after it started commercial production of its first greenfield refinery in the country, China’s commerce ministry said. Two other CNOOC affiliates, CNOOC Sales Co. and CNOOC Zhongjie Petrochemical, were also granted oil products wholesale licenses by the ministry. In addition, the ministry also granted licenses to six other firms: PetroChina Hunan Zhangjiajie Sales Co., PetroChina Hunan Xiangxi Sales Co., Shanxi Ludi Petroleum Co., Chongqing Longyang Petroleum and Chemical Co., Shiyan Tianhai Trading Co., and Yingkou Gangtian Chemical and Fuel Supply. CNOOC began commercial operations at its new 12 million metric ton per year (240,000 barrel per day) Huizhou refinery in southern Guangdong province in early May. (July 24, 2009)