The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will provide five million tons of refined oil annually to qualified private oil enterprises, said Zhao Youshan, head of the oil circulation commission under the China General Chamber of Commerce, in a press conference on oil circulation, the Oriental Morning Post reported.

The plan, expected to take effect this October, came after negotiations on package acquisition between Chinese private oil enterprises and 27 international energy giants such as BP and Shell.

Zhang Sunjie, the head of the lead negotiating company for the Chinese side, said yesterday the negotiations had ceased on August 4.

Also on August 4, the NDRC announced in a circular that the two major energy suppliers, Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corporation, should offer enterprises outside their own systems free access to refined oil. Domestic private oil enterprises applauded the news and ended negotiations with foreign oil suppliers.