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BEIJING / Reuters
China has issued crude oil import quotas for 2017 of 1.5 million tonnes to three independent refiners, three sources familiar with the situation said, a sign Beijing is easing its policy towards these companies sometimes known as teapots.
Shandong Qingyishan Petrochemical Technology Co was granted a quota of 800,000 tonnes, Zibo Xintai Petrochemical Co was given 500,000 tonnes and Shandong Yuhuang Shengshi Chemical Co a quota of 200,000 tonnes, the sources said, citing a Ministry of Commerce notice. They declined to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the press.
The quotas must be used by the end of the year. The Commerce Ministry and the companies did not respond to requests for comment. The quotas are the latest sign that the government is relaxing its policies towards the independent refiners after cutting import quotas and banning them from exporting fuel earlier this year.
State media has reported that China’s increasingly influential independent refineries have sought changes to oil quota polices to help them plan procurement and production in adv-ance. Quotas for some of these independents were cut by nearly 17 percent in 2017 versus 2016 because they under-used the earlier permits.