Private Oil Companies Want To Write To The Collective: Temporarily Maintain The Price Adjustment Period Of Refined Oil Products

The weekly survey released by the US Energy Intelligence Agency (EIA) on 23 showed that the average price of regular unleaded gasoline in the United States last week was 2.7 dollars per gallon, or about 5.3 yuan / liter. In August 25th, the retail price of No. 93 gasoline in Beijing was 7.85 yuan / liter.

Under consideration Refined oil The reform of pricing mechanism has worried private oil companies. Yesterday, the first Financial Daily reporter learned from the China Petroleum Administration Committee of the China Federation of Commerce (hereinafter referred to as "China Petroleum Commission"), according to the reflection of member enterprises, they have drafted a document to prepare for the NDRC and the State Council in the near future. The theme of the document is to temporarily maintain the price adjustment period stipulated in the 22 working days stipulated by the refined oil price adjustment mechanism.

Price adjustment pressure

According to media reports, the NDRC is considering the production of refined oil. Modify price The possible direction of reform is to shorten the price adjustment period of the original 22 working days to 10 working days, and the domestic oil price will be adjusted if the international oil price rises or falls by more than 2%.

The oil price adjustment mechanism adopted by China is now open in 2009. According to the regulations, international crude oil prices have increased or dropped by more than 4% in 22 consecutive working days, considering the adjustment of domestic refined oil prices.

This mechanism shows many malpractices in the operation process, such as time lag in price adjustment and speculation. The change in international oil prices this year has also led to criticism that consumers have not raised their prices in line with the rise in international oil prices, but not in time with the decline in international oil prices.

Under various pressures, the NDRC began to discuss the reform of the refined oil price adjustment mechanism. According to the reporter's understanding, the plan of reducing the price cycle to 10 working days is under discussion. It is possible to start a pilot project before the end of this year.

Zhao Youshan, chairman of China Petroleum Commission, said that private oil companies have been facing difficulties in the shortage of oil sources since 1998. The circulation of oil products is more frequent and time-consuming. If the price adjustment cycle is shortened, it will cause greater economic losses to private enterprises, resulting in their inability to survive.

According to the statistics of the China Petroleum and Industry Commission, the total number of employed people in the private oil enterprises is about 1100000, of which more than 600 are wholesale enterprises. Most of them are bankrupt or semi bankrupt due to insufficient supply of oil sources, and only more than 100 of them are still active. About 46 thousand of the 95 thousand gas stations in the country are private gas stations, which account for about 1/3 of the total retail sales of refined oil. Most of these private gas stations are located in towns or remote areas, and the scale is mostly small.

Zhao Youshan said, if we can ensure adequate oil supply, private oil companies are not opposed to shortening the price adjustment mechanism of refined oil.

"Now the oil source is monopolized. Until the price rises, it is very difficult for private enterprises to get oil, and monopoly enterprises must make money themselves. We really want to maintain the current price adjustment cycle because of the difficulties of survival. Zhao Youshan said.

Dong Xiucheng, a professor at the University of China Petroleum [10.10 2.64% shares, said in an interview with our reporter last night that private oil companies are unreasonable to make such a request, because the purpose of shortening the price adjustment period is to curb speculation and avoid hoarding.

Refined oil Imported Qualification is hard to find?

For the current high oil prices generally reflected in the society, Zhao Youshan said that private oil companies are eager to obtain the qualification of refined oil imports, which will increase market supply and will help stabilize market prices.

Zhao Youshan told reporters that he had contacted Russian related parties, and the other side was willing to sell refined oil to the Chinese side at a lower price. But he is unable to make this business without the qualification of imported products.

Wang Weihan, an expert in energy economics research center of the University of foreign trade and economics, believes that from the current situation, it is very difficult for private oil companies to obtain the qualification of refined oil imports, but if the relevant policies are really open to private enterprises, it will play a catalytic role in increasing the supply of refined oil products and improving the level of competition.

At present, China still adopts strict qualification examination and approval in the import of refined oil products. At present, apart from a number of state-owned enterprises such as PetroChina, Sinopec and CNOOC, some non-state trading enterprises have the qualification of imported products. But according to Wang Weihan research, private enterprises both have import qualification and have low qualification for wholesale. And since 2007, the Ministry of Commerce has not approved any new wholesale oil products enterprises.

"If the management mechanism of the refined oil market does not change, no matter whether the price adjustment period is shortened to ten days or real-time linkage, it is difficult to achieve the desired results." Wang Weihan said.