PetroChina to start up Ningxia refinery in 2011

PetroChina, the nation’s second-largest oil refiner, will begin production at its expanded Ningxia refinery at the end of 2011, later than originally planned, parent company China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) said. Platts has previously reported that the refinery was expected to start operations in September 2011. But according to the China Daily report, the planned start-up represents a delay of one year from the original schedule. The Ningxia refinery in northwestern China is currently undergoing a 7 billion yuan (US$1 billion) expansion, which will raise capacity from 1.5 million metric tons per year (MTPY) to 5 million MTPY, enabling it to produce 1.67 million MTPY of gasoline and 2.29 million MTPY of gasoil, China Daily reported, citing CNPC’s online newsletter. The upgraded refinery will produce fuels that meet China IV emission standards, which are similar to Euro IV, according to the statement. (June 29, 2010)