Import Data News
- Government increases strategic oil stocks
Date: 16-Jan-2007 Sources: (Shenzhen Daily)
THE country imported about 12.4 million barrels of crude oil for its strategic storage tanks in December, more than 50 percent above November's intake, industry sources said yesterday.
State oil giant Sinopec, the key importer of the crude supply, has doubled its tank space lease at the Zhenhai reserve base to 20 million barrels, one industry source said.
The new imports suggest that at least 70 percent of the tanks designated for strategic storage have now been filled.
Another industry source based in the east coast city of Ningbo, where the tanks are situated, said: 'At least eight crude tankers have discharged into the government storage in December.'
A total of about 3.34 million tons (24.38 million barrels) of crude oil was discharged at Ningbo port in December, a survey of port agents showed.
China's top energy official said in November that China wanted to fill its strategic oil reserves while global crude prices are relatively low.
Oil has hovered above US$60 a barrel levels for much of December, and slid to US$51.56 last week, the lowest since late May 2005.
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