CNPC gets clearance for talks

China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) has been authorized to jointly develop coal-bed methane projects with foreign partners, a senior CNPC official said, ending a monopoly previously held by China United Coalbed Methane Co. (CUCBM). Yu Baocai, a vice general manager of CNPC, didn’t say when the approval was given, or whether CNPC had started talks with potential foreign partners. CNPC, the nation’s top oil and gas producer by capacity, said in late February it planned to increase its focus on alternative-energy sources, including coal-bed methane, ethanol and oil sands. (March 8, 2010)