Why aren't domestic oil prices falling?
(People's Daily Online) Updated: 2006-10-19 15:12
Domestic oil prices to gradually merge with international prices
If
there is to be a delay in the alignment of domestic and international oil, how
long do you expect this delay to be?
Wang Zhen: My personal view is that we should gradually shorten this time
delay until the two entirely converge. It is very important that the pricing
mechanism works properly. A market-oriented pricing mechanism will play a big
role in pushing forward a rational distribution of resources and energy saving.
If prices are gradually straightened out, oil companies will have no reason to
blames losses on refining industry policy. The community will no longer have
such great expectations of the government in terms of price adjustment. The
Chinese government has attached great importance to reforming the oil pricing
mechanism. The key here is in opportunities. The consumption of refined oil will
have an influence on industrial and agricultural production, transportation and
other important industries. The fluctuation of refined oil prices directly
influences production and people's lives. A drop in world oil prices would
create a rare opportunity for the smooth implementation of a comprehensive
reform of refined oil prices. (For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
|