Sinopec commits to cleaner production, fuels

China Petrochemical Corp, or Sinopec, issued a report on its efforts at environmental protection - a first for a Chinese company.

The report cites strategies of China's biggest oil refiner by capacity to reduce environmental impact, as well as implementation of lower-carbon fuels and less-polluting production methods.

"The 18th CPC National Congress created a blueprint for a better tomorrow of promoting ecological progress and building a beautiful China," said Li Ganjie, vice-minister of environmental protection. "Chinese industrial companies should play a leading role in this campaign."

Sinopec in 2011 produced 15.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas and sold 8.95 million metric tons of ethanol-mix gasoline, up 150 percent and 230 percent, respectively, from 2005.

The company last year provided customers 4,000 metric tons of B5 biodiesel, which contains at least 5 percent fuel derived from vegetable oil or animal fat.

Between 2005 and 2011, Sinopec's total energy savings was the equivalent of 15.8 million metric tons of coal. The amount of carbon emissions reduced was 38.87 million metric tons — approximately equal to the exhaust from 11 million compact cars in a year.

In the same seven-year period, the company invested 49.2 billion yuan ($7.8 billion) to upgrade the quality of its refined fuels. Based on its 2010 output, this led to a cut of 48,000 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions during consumption.

Chairman Fu Chengyu said Sinopec will continue working to make its processes and fuel cleaner and that this priority has become part of the company's culture.