PetroChina, China's largest oil producer, is discussing with Qatar Petroleum to jointly establish a petrochemical facility in China, a PetroChina source revealed Wednesday.

A feasibility study on the joint-venture project is well underway, said the source, adding that how much the company will invest in the project and where it will be located were yet to be decided, according to China Securities Journal.

Earlier media report said the project was expected to be completed in 2013, with an annual production capacity of 700,000-800,000 tons for the initial stage.

Last November the Ministry of Commerce website said PetroChina had reached agreement with Qatar Petroleum on jointly building a large petrochemical project. The candidates for the project also included Royal Dutch Shell.

It is reported that PetroChina is planning to build a 10-million-ton refinery in Huludao of northeast China's Liaoning Province. The company will establish another refinery in Singapore, which will cost several billion U.S. dollars.

Industry observers said all these plans indicated PetroChina's determination to strengthen its downstream arms

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2008)