PetroChina, one of China’s top three oil producers (the other two are Sinopec and CNOOC), plans to build a 100,000tpy biodiesel processing plant in Sichuan Province in SW China during the 12th five-year plan period (2011-15). As part of the pre-project preparatory work, PetroChina signed an agreement with the Panzhihua Municipal government and the Lishang Yi Autonomous Prefecture government about the planting of 5 million mu (1 acre=15 mu) of Jatropha Curcas, with 1.8 million mu and 3.2 million mu in Panzhihua City and Liangshan Prefecture, respectively. Jatropha Curcas is the best tree species for producing biodiesel. PetroChina has put over USD 265 million into the pre-project preparation. The plantation is located in Yanbian County and Huili County. Planting has begun, and 220,000mu worth of crops are expected to be complete by the end of this year. This Jatropha Curcas plantation will have a series of positive effects on local counties, improving the environment, adding to farmers’ income and providing abundant raw materials for the production of biodiesel.
