NEA: End of the line for small oil refineries

Agency aims to clean the air and upgrade sector's technology by cutting capacity

China will shut down small, obsolete petroleum refining facilities as it pursues a two-pronged strategy of upgrading the industry's technology level while improving air quality, according to a document from the National Energy Administration.

Refining companies are being told to eliminate units with annual capacity of less than 2 million metric tons, according to the document.