JAPAN DISASTER: Sinopec, PetroChina offer fuel supply to Japan

SHANGHAI (ICIS)--China’s energy giants Sinopec and PetroChina will provide 20,000 tonnes of fuel to ease a quake-induced fuel shortage in Japan, a media official from PetroChina said on Thursday.

The supply includes 10,000 tonnes of gasoline and 10,000 tonnes of diesel, said the official who declined to be named.

“We are doing preparation work for the fuel delivery now,” he said, but declined to elaborate on details on when delivery to Japan would start.

Japan is experiencing fuel shortage as about 22% of its refining capacity was shut down in the aftermath of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.

JX Group, a major energy firm in Japan, has terminated exports of oil products to cater to domestic demand.

The Chinese government is providing yuan (CNY) 30m ($4.57m) in emergency humanitarian aid, along with a 15-member rescue team, to support disaster relief operations in quake-stricken Japan, according to the Ministry of Commerce of China.

Meanwhile, Japan’s nuclear crisis at its Fukushima Daiichi facility prompted China to suspend approvals for new nuclear power plants on Wednesday.

China also ordered comprehensive checks on existing nuclear facilities to close safety loopholes, China’s cabinet State Council said in a statement.

($1 = CNY6.57)