I suspected something strange also. I wasn't able to locate any news anywhere, but didn't check the bnn Web site. I took a look at some of Sinopec's information and couldn't find any comments regarding American interests. -bbq
"BUSINESS PROSPECTS
Looking into the second half of this year, the State will continue applying the proactive fiscal policy and relatively easy monetary policy, further improving and implementing the integrated economic stimulus package, and increasing domestic demand. The Chinese economy is expected to maintain relatively fast growth. International crude oil price in the second half is expected to be higher than the first half, fluctuating within a narrow range. While domestic demand for refined oil products will maintain steady growth, the demand for chemical products will continue to recover. Domestic ethylene production capacity is expected to grow significantly.
In the second half of this year, the Company will make more efforts in market development, strengthen the coordination between production, marketing and R&D. Throughout intensified and refined management and cost saving, the Company shall make optimal arrangement for various production and operation activities.
In Exploration and Production Segment, the Company will enhance wild cat exploration activities, and try to make break through in newly explored regions, and enhance integrated management over both exploration and development in key regions, as well as proactively tap the potentials of existing oil fields, and further improve their recovery rate. In terms of natural gas development, the Sichuan-East China Gas Project is expected to start-up in the fourth quarter of this year. In the second half of this year, the Company plans to produce 21.40 million tonnes of crude oil and 4.963 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
In Refining Segment, the Company will try to operate at high utilisation rate, optimise the purchase and allocation of crude oil resources, and make efforts to reduce the cost of crude oil procurement. In line with market changes, the Company will timely adjust the product mix, and increase the output of high value-added products. The Company will start-up the newly built refining projects such as Fujian and Tianjin, and prepare for the production of GB III standard gasoline. In the second half of this year, the Company plans to 97.10 million tonnes of crude oil.
In Marketing and Distribution Segment, the Company will proactively deal with the changing market, implement flexible marketing strategy, in order to consolidate and expand sales to end-users. The Company will optimise its logistics, improve marketing network. Meanwhile, the Company will refine the management activities, improve its service, actively promote and develop such businesses as non-fuel products and IC cards. In the second half of this year, the Company plans a total domestic sales volume of oil products at 63 million tonnes.
In Chemical Segment, the Company will persist in such strategies as market oriented and customer centered, and to adjust product mix to produce more products well-received by the market. The Company will enhance coordination between production, sale and R&D and to promote the development of new products, and make more efforts to expand the market shares of chemical products. The Company will improve production management, maintain stable operation of facilities. Fujian and Tianjin, the two newly built ethylene projects will be put into operations. In the second half of this year, the Company plans to produce 3.727 million tonnes of ethylene.
In light of the market environment and the concrete situation, the new Board of Directors approved the rolling development program for the period starting from 2009 to 2011. We will continue to grow the domestic production of crude oil and substantially increase natural gas production. Furthermore, we will promote the integration of the refinery and petrochemical enterprises in three regions – the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Bohai Rim – to ensure the steady supply of refined oil and petrochemical products. By 2011, domestic oil equivalent production is expected to amount to 55 million tonnes (approximately 43 million tonnes of crude oil and 17 billion cubic meters of natural gas); crude oil processing volume 202 million tonnes; ethylene productivity 9.3 million tonnes per year; and the total sales volume of domestic refined oil products 135 million tonnes.
In the next half year of 2009, with the support of all the shareholders and the whole society, the Board of Directors, with the joint efforts of the corporate management and all employees, through implementation of the above mentioned development strategies, and by proactively confronting the challenges, Sinopec Corp. will make further progress and delivery good results to our shareholders, employees, customers, and the society."
