PetroChina to start trials in Qinzhou

PetroChina plans to start trial runs at its new Qinzhou refinery in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China, which has a crude processing capacity of 10 million metric tons per year (MTPY). Local media reported earlier that the refinery was trying its best to get all units ready for trial runs by May 30. The complex, which is estimated to have cost 15.3 billion yuan (US$2.24 billion) for the first phase, is designed to refine high sulfur crude oil imported from Sudan, where PetroChina’s state-owned parent China National Petroleum Corp. has a major presence. The refinery will be able to produce about 7 million MTPY of products, including gasoline, gasoil, naphtha, LPG and other petrochemical products. (May 14, 2010)