20-F 1 d836220d20f.htm FORM 20-F Form 20-F
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 20-F

 

(Mark One)

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

or

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

or

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

or

 

SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

  

Date of event requiring this shell company report                     

 

  

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number 1-15006

 

 

LOGO

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

PetroChina Company Limited

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

 

The People’s Republic of China

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

 

9 Dongzhimen North Street

Dongcheng District, Beijing 100007

The People’s Republic of China,

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

Wu Enlai

Telephone number: 8610 59982622

Facsimile number: 8610 62099557

Email address: sunbo05@petrochina.com.cn

Address: 9 Dongzhimen North Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100007, The People’s Republic of China

(Name, telephone, e-mail and/or facsimile number and address of registrant’s contact person)

 

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

 

Title of Each Class

  Trading Symbol  

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

American Depositary Shares, each representing 100

H Shares, par value RMB1.00 per share*

H Shares, par value RMB1.00 per share

 

PTR

 

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.**

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

None

(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

None

(Title of Class)

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:

 

A Shares, par value RMB1.00 per share***

   161,922,077,818(1)

H Shares, par value RMB1.00 per share

   21,098,900,000****

 

(1)

Includes 146,882,339,136 A Shares held by CNPC and 15,039,738,682 A Shares held by the public shareholders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

If this is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Note — Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large Accelerated Filer  ☒                Accelerated Filer  ☐                Non-Accelerated Filer  ☐                Emerging Growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b))by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

 

            ☐  U.S. GAAP

   ☒  International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board    ☐  Other            

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.    Item 17  ☐    Item 18  ☐

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.    Yes  ☐    No  ☐

 

*

   PetroChina’s H Shares are listed and traded on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

**

   Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depository Shares.

***

   PetroChina’s A Shares became listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on November 5, 2007.

****

   Includes 709,929,100H Shares represented by American Depositary Shares.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

              Page  

Certain Terms and Conventions

     1  

Forward-Looking Statements

     5  
     Part I   

Item 1

     Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors      7  

Item 2

     Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable      7  

Item 3

     Key Information      7  
     Selected Financial Data      8  
     Risk Factors      10  

Item 4

     Information on the Company      19  
     Introduction      19  
     Exploration and Production      21  
     Refining and Chemicals      30  
     Marketing      33  
     Natural Gas and Pipeline      35  
     Competition      37  
     Environmental Matters      38  
     Properties      40  
     Intellectual Property      40  
     Regulatory Matters      41  

Item 4 A

     Unresolved Staff Comments      49  

Item 5

     Operating and Financial Review and Prospects      49  
     General      49  
     Operating Results      54  
     Liquidity and Capital Resources      63  
     Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements      67  
     Long-Term Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments and Payment Obligations      68  
     Research and Development      68  
     Trend Information      69  
     Other Information      72  

Item 6

     Directors, Senior Management and Employees      73  
     Directors, Senior Management and Supervisors      73  
     Compensation      84  
     Board Practices      84  
     Employees      87  
     Share Ownership      87  

Item 7

     Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions      87  
     Major Shareholders      87  
     Related Party Transactions      88  
     Interests of Experts and Counsel      90  

Item 8

     Financial Information      91  
     Financial Statements      91  
     Legal Proceedings      91  
     Dividend Policy      91  
     Significant Changes      92  

Item 9

     The Offer and Listing      92  
     Trading Market Information      92  

Item 10

     Additional Information      92  
     Memorandum and Articles of Association      92  
     Material Contracts      97  
     Foreign Exchange Controls      97  

 

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              Page  
     Taxation      98  
     Documents on Display      104  

Item 11

     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      104  

Item 12

     Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities      109  
     Part II   

Item 13

     Defaults, Dividends Arrearages and Delinquencies      110  

Item 14

     Material Modifications to the Rights to Security Holders and Use of Proceeds      110  

Item 15

     Controls and Procedures      110  

Item 16 A

     Audit Committee Financial Expert      112  

Item 16 B

     Code of Ethics      112  

Item 16 C

     Principal Accountant Fees and Services      112  

Item 16 D

     Exemptions from Listing Standards for Audit Committees      113  

Item 16 E

     Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers      113  

Item 16 F

     Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant      113  

Item 16 G

     Corporate Governance      113  

Item 16 H

     Mine Safety Disclosure      115  
     Part III   

Item 17

     Financial Statements      115  

Item 18

     Financial Statements      115  

Item 19

     Exhibits      115  

 

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CERTAIN TERMS AND CONVENTIONS

Conventions Which Apply to this Annual Report

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report to:

 

 

“CNPC” or “CNPC group” are to our parent, China National Petroleum Corporation and its affiliates and subsidiaries, excluding PetroChina, its subsidiaries and its interests in long-term investments, and where the context refers to any time prior to the establishment of CNPC, those entities and businesses which were contributed to CNPC upon its establishment.

 

 

“PetroChina”, “we”, “our”, “our company”, “the Company” and “us” are to: PetroChina Company Limited, a joint stock company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability and its subsidiaries and branch companies.

 

 

“PRC” or “China” are to the People’s Republic of China, but does not apply to its Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan for purposes of this annual report.

We publish our consolidated financial statements in Renminbi or RMB. In this annual report, IFRS refers to International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Conversion Table

 

1 barrel-of-oil equivalent

   = 1 barrel of crude oil    = 6,000 cubic feet of natural gas

1 cubic meter

   = 35.315 cubic feet   

1 ton of crude oil

   = 1 metric ton of crude oil    = 7.389 barrels of crude oil (assuming an API gravity of 34 degrees)

Certain Oil and Gas Terms

Unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the meanings shown below:

 

“acreage”

The total area, expressed in acres, over which an entity has interests in exploration or production. Net acreage is the entity’s interest, expressed in acres, in the relevant exploration or production area.

 

“condensate”

Light hydrocarbon substances produced with natural gas that condense into liquid at normal temperatures and pressures associated with surface production equipment.

 

“crude oil”

Crude oil, including condensate and natural gas liquids.

 

“developed reserves”

Under the reserves rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, developed reserves are reserves of any category that can be expected to be recovered:

 

  (i) through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well; and

 

 (ii) through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.

 

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“development cost”

For a given period, costs incurred to obtain access to proved reserves and to provide facilities for extracting, treating, gathering and storing the oil and gas.

 

“finding cost”

For a given period, costs incurred in identifying areas that may warrant examination and in examining specific areas that are considered to have prospects of containing oil and gas reserves, including costs of drilling exploratory wells and exploratory-type test wells. Finding cost is also known as exploration cost.

 

“lifting cost”

For a given period, costs incurred to operate and maintain wells and related equipment and facilities, including applicable operating costs of support equipment and facilities and other costs of operating and maintaining those wells and related equipment and facilities. Lifting cost is also known as production cost.

 

“natural gas liquids”

Hydrocarbons that can be extracted in liquid form during natural gas production. Ethane and pentanes are the predominant components, with other heavier hydrocarbons also present in limited quantities.

 

“offshore”

Areas under water with a depth of five meters or greater.

 

“onshore”

Areas of land and areas under water with a depth of less than five meters.

 

“primary distillation capacity”

At a given point in time, the maximum volume of crude oil a refinery is able to process in its basic distilling units.

 

“proved reserves”

Under the SEC reserves rules, proved reserves are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible — from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations — prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time.

 

  (i) The area of the reservoir considered as proved includes:

 

  (A) The area identified by drilling and limited by fluid contacts, if any, and (B) Adjacent undrilled portions of the reservoir that can, with reasonable certainty, be judged to be continuous with it and to contain economically producible oil or gas on the basis of available geoscience and engineering data.

 

  (ii) In the absence of data on fluid contacts, proved quantities in a reservoir are limited by the lowest known hydrocarbons (LKH) as seen in a well penetration unless geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establishes a lower contact with reasonable certainty.

 

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  (iii) Where direct observation from well penetrations has defined a highest known oil (HKO) elevation and the potential exists for an associated gas cap, proved oil reserves may be assigned in the structurally higher portions of the reservoir only if geoscience, engineering, or performance data and reliable technology establish the higher contact with reasonable certainty.

 

  (iv) Reserves which can be produced economically through application of improved recovery techniques (including, but not limited to, fluid injection) are included in the proved classification when:

 

  (A) Successful testing by a pilot project in an area of the reservoir with properties no more favorable than in the reservoir as a whole, the operation of an installed program in the reservoir or an analogous reservoir, or other evidence using reliable technology establishes the reasonable certainty of the engineering analysis on which the project or program was based; and (B) The project has been approved for development by all necessary parties and entities, including governmental entities.

 

  (v) Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price shall be the average price during the 12-month period prior to the ending date of the period covered by the report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions.

 

“reserves-to-production ratio”

For any given well, field or country, the ratio of proved reserves to annual production of crude oil or, with respect to natural gas, to wellhead production excluding flared gas.

 

“sales gas”

Marketable production of gas on an “as sold” basis, excluding flared gas, injected gas and gas consumed in operations.

 

“undeveloped reserves”

Under the SEC reserves rules, undeveloped reserves are reserves of any category that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.

 

  (i) Reserves on undrilled acreage shall be limited to those directly offsetting development spacing areas that are reasonably certain of production when drilled, unless evidence using reliable technology exists that establishes reasonable certainty of economic producibility at greater distances.

 

  (ii) Undrilled locations can be classified as having undeveloped reserves only if a development plan has been adopted indicating that they are scheduled to be drilled within five years, unless the specific circumstances, justify a longer time.

 

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  (iii) Under no circumstances shall estimates for undeveloped reserves be attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other improved recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proved effective by actual projects in the same reservoir or an analogous reservoir, or by other evidence using reliable technology establishing reasonable certainty.

 

“water cut”

For a given oil region, the percentage that water constitutes of all fluids extracted from all wells in that region.

References to:

 

   

BOE is to barrels-of-oil equivalent,

 

   

Mcf is to thousand cubic feet, and

 

   

Bcf is to billion cubic feet.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to:

 

   

the amounts and nature of future exploration, development and other capital expenditures;

 

   

future prices and demand for crude oil, natural gas, refined products and chemical products;

 

   

development projects;

 

   

exploration prospects;

 

   

reserves potential;

 

   

production of oil and gas and refined and chemical products;

 

   

development and drilling potential;

 

   

expansion and other development trends of the oil and gas industry;

 

   

the planned development of our natural gas operations;

 

   

the planned expansion of our refined product marketing network;

 

   

the planned expansion of our natural gas infrastructure;

 

   

the anticipated benefit from the acquisition of certain overseas assets from CNPC, our parent company;

 

   

the plan to continue to pursue attractive business opportunities outside China;

 

   

our future overall business development and economic performance;

 

   

our anticipated financial and operating information regarding, and the future development and economic performance of, our business;

 

   

our anticipated market risk exposure arising from future changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices; and

 

   

other prospects of our business and operations.

The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “plan”, “seek”, “will” and “would” and similar expressions, as they related to us, are intended to identify a number of these forward-looking statements.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and are beyond our control. The forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation, the risk factors set forth in this annual report and the following:

 

   

fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices;

 

   

effects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

failure to achieve continued exploration success;

 

   

failures or delays in achieving production from development projects;

 

   

continued availability of capital and financing;

 

   

acquisitions and other business opportunities that we may pursue;

 

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general economic, market and business conditions, including volatility in interest rates, changes in foreign exchange rates and volatility in commodity markets;

 

   

liability for remedial actions under environmental regulations;

 

   

the actions of competitors;

 

   

wars and acts of terrorism or sabotage;

 

   

changes in policies, laws or regulations of the PRC, including changes in applicable tax rates and oil and gas pipeline network reforms;

 

   

the other changes in global economic and political conditions affecting the production, supply and demand and pricing of crude oil, refined products, petrochemical products and natural gas; and

 

   

the other risk factors discussed in this annual report, and other factors beyond our control.

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

 

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PART I

Item 1 — IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS

Not applicable. However, see “Item 6 — Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Directors, Senior Management and Supervisors” and “Item 16C — Principal Accountant Fees and Services”.

Item 2 — OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not applicable.

Item 3 — KEY INFORMATION

 

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Selected Financial Data

Historical Financial Information

You should read the selected historical financial data set forth below in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes and “Item 5 — Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included elsewhere in this annual report. The selected consolidated statement of comprehensive income (except for ADS data) and cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and the selected consolidated statement of financial position data as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 set forth below are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. The selected consolidated statement of comprehensive income data (except for ADS data) and cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016 and the selected consolidated statement of financial position data as of December 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 set forth below are derived from our audited financial statements not included in this annual report. Our consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. The financial information included in this section may not necessarily reflect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows in the future.

 

     As of or for the Year Ended December 31,  
     2015(4)     2016(4)     2017(4)     2018(4)     2019  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  
     (In millions, except for per share, per ADS data and percentages)  

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income Data

  

Revenue

     1,736,663       1,627,588       2,032,298       2,374,934       2,516,810  

Total operating expenses

     (1,657,733     (1,564,926     (1,961,462     (2,251,992     (2,395,048

Profit from operations

     78,930       62,662       70,836       122,942       121,762  

Profit before income tax expense

     56,815       46,574       55,691       116,770       103,214  

Income tax expense

     (15,726     (15,919     (16,296     (42,790     (36,199

Profit for the year

     41,089       30,655       39,395       73,980       67,015  

Attributable to:

          

Owners of the Company

     35,234       8,222       23,537       53,036       45,682  

Non-controlling interests

     5,855       22,433       15,858       20,944       21,333  

Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to owners of the Company(1)

     0.19       0.04       0.13       0.29       0.25  

Basic and diluted net earnings per ADS(2)

     19.25       4.49       12.86       28.98       24.96  

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position Data

          

Total current assets

     353,560       385,199       430,294       438,241       466,913  

Total non-current assets

     2,048,512       2,019,003       1,983,205       2,002,636       2,265,997  

Total assets

     2,402,072       2,404,202       2,413,499       2,440,877       2,732,910  

Total current liabilities

     479,653       507,530       588,551       596,430       661,419  

Total non-current liabilities

     585,403       529,870       446,960       435,556       627,186  

Total liabilities

     1,065,056       1,037,400       1,035,511       1,031,986       1,288,605  

Equity attributable to owners of the Company

     1,177,721       1,187,337       1,192,572       1,213,783       1,230,156  

Non-controlling interests

     159,295       179,465       185,416       195,108       214,149  

Total equity

     1,337,016       1,366,802       1,377,988       1,408,891       1,444,305  

Other Financial Data

          

Dividend declared and proposed per share

     0.09       0.06       0.13       0.18       0.14  

Dividend declared and proposed per ADS

     8.73       5.93       13.00       17.88       14.37  

Capital expenditures

     203,302       172,961       219,346       256,106       296,776  

Return on net assets (%)(3)

     3.0       0.7       2.0       4.4       3.7  

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow Data

          

Net cash flows from operating activities

     261,855       268,897       368,729       353,256       359,610  

Net cash flows used for investing activities

     (217,112     (176,310     (243,790     (267,812     (332,948

Net cash flows used for financing activities

     (44,673     (70,454     (96,746     (125,703     (27,276

 

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(1)

For the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively, basic and diluted earnings per share were calculated by dividing the profit attributable to owners of the Company by 183,021 million, the total number of shares outstanding in each of these financial years.

(2)

Each ADS represents 100 H Shares. The basic and diluted earnings per ADS were calculated with the same method as that used for the calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share.

(3)

Return on net assets is calculated as “Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company” divided by “Equity attributable to owners of the Company”.

(4)

(a) The comparative data in the table was restated as if Dalian West Pacific Petrochemical Co., Ltd. was consolidated since the earliest year presented. Please refer to “Item 4 — Information on the Company — Acquisitions and Divestment” and Note 40 to our consolidated financial statements, and (b) We have initially applied IFRS 16 on January 1, 2019 and IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 on January 1, 2018. According to the adopted transition plan, the comparative data has not been restated. For a detailed description of the changes and impacts of these accounting standards, please refer to “Note 3 (aa) New Accounting Standards” in our financial statements.

 

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Risk Factors

Our business is primarily subject to various changing competitive, economic and social conditions. Such changing conditions entail certain risks, which are described below.

Risks Related to Macro Economic Conditions

Our operations may be adversely affected by international and domestic economic conditions. As the oil and gas industry is sensitive to macro-economic trends, oil and gas prices tend to fluctuate along with changes in macro-economic conditions. We may experience pricing pressure on our refined products in recessionary periods, which would have an adverse effect on our profitability. Changes in macro-economic conditions can affect the demand for certain of our products. These factors may also lead to intensified competition for market share, with consequential potential adverse effects on sales volumes. Inflation may lead to increase in our operating costs. Notwithstanding the measures taken by the PRC government to control inflation, China may experience an increase in inflation in the future and our operating costs may become higher than anticipated. The financial and economic situation may also have a negative impact on third parties with whom we do business, and may impact their ability to perform contractual obligations to us. In addition, other factors that affect the macro economy, such as declining population growth rates, conflicts and wars, trade and tariff policies, and major public health events, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, may have an adverse impact on oil and gas and petrochemical industries, including us. Any of these factors may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.

Risks Related to Competition

The oil, gas and petrochemicals industries are highly competitive. There is strong competition, both within the oil and gas industry and with other industries, in supplying the fuel needs of commercial, industrial and residential markets. In recent years, with the intensive reform of China’s petroleum, refining and chemical, natural gas, LNG, pipelines and refined oils sales industries, we have been facing increasingly intense competition in the exploration, refinery, chemical, sales, and oil and gas service sectors from privately-owned companies, foreign-invested enterprises and other state-owned enterprises that recently entered the oil and gas industries. In addition, the rapid development of unconventional oil and gas resources, new energy sources and new products also poses competition with the conventional energy and petrochemical industries. Competition puts pressure on product prices, affects oil products marketing and requires continuous management focus on identifying new trends, reducing unit costs and improving efficiency. The implementation of our growth strategy requires continued technological advances and innovation, including advances in exploration, production, refining, petrochemicals manufacturing technology and advances in technology related to energy usage. Our performance could be impeded if competitors developed or acquired intellectual property rights to technology that we required or if our innovation lagged the industry.

The Eastern and Southern regions of China have a higher demand for refined products and chemical products than the Western and Northern regions. Although we have strived to increase our refinery capacity in the Southern regions of China over recent years, most of our refineries and chemical plants are located in the Northeastern and Northwestern regions of China. We incur relatively higher transportation costs for delivery of our refined products and chemical products to certain areas of the Eastern and Southern regions from our refineries and chemical plants in Western and Northern China. We face strong competition from other traditional domestic oil companies, local independent refineries and other competitors. As a result, we expect that we will continue to encounter difficulty in increasing our sales of refined products and chemical products in these regions.

Risks Related to Outbound Investments and Trading

We are subject to various political, legal and regulatory environments in foreign developing countries where we operate, some of which are known to be unstable and differ in certain significant respects from those

 

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prevailing in developed countries. The main factors affecting our outbound investments include unstable political situations, unstable tax policies and unstable regulatory regimes. CNPC, our controlling shareholder, and its affiliates and subsidiaries may choose to undertake, without our involvement, overseas investments, operations and trading in the oil and gas industry, including certain exploration and production of oil and gas, refining, transportation, trading, engineering construction and technical services, operations of pipelines and liquefied natural gas, or LNG projects, or other business activities in certain countries or with certain entities that are subject to U.S. economic sanctions or are designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism, including Iran, Sudan, Cuba, Myanmar, Russia and Venezuela.

In 2018, the United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (“JCPOA”) and reimposed certain sanctions against Iran, which were conditionally lifted in 2015 following entry into the JCPOA. These reimposed sanctions have implications for non-U.S. companies, including requiring foreign companies to cease participation in projects in certain sectors of Iran (including the energy sector), and, except for eight countries and regions (including China) which were granted a Significant Reduction Exception (“SRE”) to be able to continue to import limited oil, prohibiting or restricting oil imports from Iran. The SREs expired in May 2019, and the United States announced that no additional waivers would be re-issued. Pursuant to section 13(r) to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, reporting issuers are required to disclose whether they or any of their affiliates have knowingly engaged in certain activities, transactions, or dealings related to Iran during the reporting period, including activities not prohibited by U.S. or other law. In 2019, our controlling shareholder, CNPC, held indirect interests in certain oil and gas development projects in Iran, namely, (i) the MIS oil fields in which CNPC obtained a 100% interest in 2010, (ii) the North Azadegan oilfield, in which CNPC obtained a 100% interest in 2009 and (iii) the South Pars gas field project. Regarding the South Pars gas field project, CNPC first obtained a 100% interest in 2009. After ceasing participation in the project in 2012, CNPC in July 2017 regained a 30% investment and operating interest in the South Pars gas field project under a new Iran Petroleum Contract (the “IPC”). In November 2018, CNPC took over another shareholder’s interest pursuant to the IPC but the project was on hold. In October 2019, CNPC withdrew from the project. From the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions until May 2019, CNPC had been providing minimal support and extraction-related services to the MIS oilfield and the North Azadgan oilfield to recover its investment pursuant to the project agreements and in line with the SRE issued to China. Since May 2019, CNPC has suspended extracting oil from the two oilfields. In 2019 (until May), CNPC transported back to China approximately 1.47 million tons of crude oil that it extracted from the MIS oilfield and the North Azadgan oilfield, of which approximately 0.41 million tons were resold to our company’s refineries. In 2019, crude oil that we processed from the foregoing source accounted for 0.32% of the total oil processed by our refineries and contributed 0.08% of our total revenue.

Since July 2014, the United States has adopted economic sanctions against certain Russian persons and entities, including various entities operating in the financial, energy and defense sectors, such as Rosneft, Gazprom, Transneft, OAO Novatek and Yamal LNG. These sanctions prohibit U.S. persons from transacting in, providing financing for or otherwise dealing in debt issuance by certain of these entities, or restrict exports and transfer of technologies to certain of these entities. CNPC had certain pre-existing trading and investment relationships with some of these sanctioned Russian entities. For example, CNPC entered into a long-term agreement with each of Rosneft and Transneft to import crude oil from Russia in 2009 and a long-term agreement with Rosneft to import crude oil from Russia in June 2013. CNPC has resold, and will for the foreseeable future resell, all or a substantial portion of the imported crude oil from Rosneft and Transneft under the crude oil agreements to us. In 2014, CNPC signed a long-term agreement with Gazprom to import natural gas from Russia, which was assigned to one of our subsidiaries in 2019. CNPC also indirectly holds 20% equity interest in OAO Yamal LNG and 10% equity interest in Arctic LNG 2, both of which are subsidiaries of OAO Novatek, another sanctioned Russian entity. In May 2014, we entered into a long-term LNG import agreement with a subsidiary of OAO Yamal LNG to import LNG from Russia.

In August 2017, the United States imposed economic sanctions against the Government of Venezuela and certain state-owned entities, including Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (“PdVSA”). These sanctions prohibit

 

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U.S. persons from transacting in, providing financing for or otherwise dealing in “new debt” issued by these entities on or after August 25, 2017, with certain exceptions for short-term debt. Neither CNPC nor PetroChina purchased such new debt securities issued by the Government of Venezuela or by PdVSA, nor did they provide any assistance to third parties in this regard. In 2019, the United States issued enhanced sanction measures against Venezuela, which included blocking the property of Venezuelan government and its controlled entities, and introducing new restrictions on Venezuela’s oil sector. Under these programs, persons determined to be operating in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy, or to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any person included on the list of SDNs and Blocked Persons, may also be subject to risk of being designated for blocking sanctions. CNPC has longstanding trading and investment activities in Venezuela. In 2019, we purchased a small amount of oil product sourced from Venezuela for processing and resale, which contributed approximately 0.7% of our total revenue in 2019. CNPC has suspended purchases of oil from Venezuela. In 2008, CNPC Exploration and Development Company Limited (“CNPC E&D”), a joint venture held as to 50% by us and 50% by a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNPC, acquired 40% stake in the Sinovensa block located in Carabobo, Monagas State, Venezuela. The other 60% stake of the block is held by PdVSA, which also serves as the operator of the block. The block produces and sells heavy oil. We also indirectly hold minority interests in a few other small projects in Venezuela. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the share of profit generated from the Sinovensa block and these other projects accounted for approximately 1.4% of our total profit.

We closely monitor the possible impacts of U.S. sanctions against the countries and entities which have trading or investment relationships with CNPC or us. We will continue to manage our risk exposure and to endeavor that our activities do not violate any applicable economic sanctions administered by the United States. However, we cannot assure you that current or future regulations or developments related to economic sanctions will not have a material adverse impact on our business or reputation. Certain U.S. based investors may not wish to invest and have proposed or adopted divestment or similar initiatives regarding investments in companies that do business with countries and entities that are subject to U.S. sanctions. These investors may not wish for CNPC or us to make investments or conduct activities in the countries or with the entities that are the subject of U.S. sanctions and may divest their investment in us because of our relationship with CNPC and its investments and activities in those countries or with those entities that are the subject of U.S. sanctions. As a result, the trading prices of our ADSs may be adversely affected.

In July 2012, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, added Bank of Kunlun Co., Ltd., or Kunlun Bank, an affiliate of our company due to common control by CNPC, to its “List of Foreign Financial Institutions Subject to Part 561”, which was replaced by the list of Correspondent Account of Payable-Through Account Sanctions, pursuant to the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010. OFAC reported that Kunlun Bank provided financial services to at least six Iranian banks that were on OFAC’s sanctions list during 2012. These financial services included holding accounts, making transfers and paying letters of credit on behalf of the designated banks. In 2018, Kunlun Bank has discontinued the business activities which are subject to U.S. sanctions. Since November 2018, Kunlun Bank’s settlement business involving Iran has been limited to settlement of humanitarian materials, limited crude oil trade within the framework of applicable SRE exemptions, and other business activities that are not subject to sanctions, and it has ceased business cooperation with the banks that are subject to secondary sanctions. Beginning in May 2019, Kunlun Bank further ceased involvement in settlement activities related to Iranian crude oil trade. Our company has no involvement in or control over such activities of Kunlun Bank or CNPC and CNPC subsidiaries and affiliates, and we have never received any revenue or profit derived from these activities.

Risks Related to Government Regulation

Our operations, like those of other PRC oil and gas companies, are subject to extensive regulations and control by the PRC government. These regulations and control affect many material aspects of our

 

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operations, such as exploration and production licensing, industry-specific and product-specific taxes and fees and environmental and safety standards. As a result, we may face significant constraints on our ability to implement our business strategies, to develop or expand our business operations or to maximize our profitability. Our business may also be affected by future changes in certain policies of the PRC government with respect to the oil and gas industry. For example, on March 19, 2019, the PRC government passed the Opinions on Implementation of the Reform of the Operation Mechanism of Oil and Gas Pipeline Network (the “Opinion”). According to the Opinion, the PRC government will carry out reforms of the oil and gas pipeline operation mechanism. An oil and gas pipeline network operator shall be established, which will have diversified investors with state-owned capital holding the majority stake. The Opinion states that the PRC government would form an oil and gas market system with multi-channel suppliers in the upstream, an integrated pipeline network with high efficiency in the middle-stream, and a fully competitive market in the downstream, to improve the efficiency of oil and gas resource allocation. On May 24, 2019, a number of Chinese government agencies jointly issued the Regulations on the Fair Opening of Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Facilities, pursuant to which, from May 24, 2019, oil and gas pipeline network operators shall provide non-discriminatory services of oil and gas transportation, storage, gasification, loading and unloading, transshipment to users who meet the accessing conditions; without proper reasons, they must not delay the signing of or refuse to sign service contracts with users who meet the accessing conditions, and must not make unreasonable requirements. On December 9, 2019, the Chinese government established the China Oil & Gas Pipeline Network Corporation (the “National Pipeline Network Company”). The National Pipeline Network Company is in discussions with the Company regarding a possible acquisition of certain pipeline assets from the Company. As at the date of this report, no definitive agreement has been reached. There is no assurance that the definitive agreement, if any, will not bring any adverse effect on the development of our natural gas and pipeline business and our operation results.

Currently, the PRC government must approve the construction and major renovation of significant refining and petrochemical facilities as well as the construction of significant crude oil, natural gas and refined product pipelines and storage facilities. We presently have several significant projects pending approval from the relevant government authorities and will need approvals from the relevant government authorities in connection with several other significant projects. We do not have control over the timing and outcome of the final project approvals.

Because PRC laws, regulations and legal requirements dealing with economic matters continue to evolve, and because of the limited volume of published judicial interpretations and the non-binding nature of prior court decisions, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws, regulations and legal requirements involve some uncertainty. Because the PRC Company Law is different in certain important aspects from company laws in the United States, Hong Kong and other common law jurisdictions, and because the PRC securities laws and regulations are still at a stage of development, you may not enjoy the shareholders’ protections that you may be entitled to in other jurisdictions.

Risks Related to Controlling Shareholder

As of December 31, 2019, CNPC beneficially owned approximately 80.41% of our share capital. This ownership percentage enables CNPC to elect our entire board of directors without the concurrence of any of our other shareholders. Accordingly, CNPC is in a position to:

 

   

control our policies and management affairs;

 

   

subject to applicable PRC laws and regulations and provisions of our articles of association, affect the timing and amount of dividend payments and adopt amendments to certain of the provisions of our articles of association; and

 

   

otherwise determine the outcome of most corporate actions and, subject to the regulatory requirements of the jurisdictions in which our shares are listed, cause our company to effect corporate transactions without the approval of minority shareholders.

 

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CNPC’s interests may sometimes conflict with those of some or all of our minority shareholders. We cannot assure you that CNPC, as our controlling shareholder, will always vote its shares in a way that benefits our minority shareholders.

In addition to its relationship with us as our controlling shareholder, CNPC by itself or through its affiliates also provides us with certain services and products necessary for our business activities, such as construction and technical services, production services, materials supply services, social services and financial services. The interests of CNPC and its affiliates as providers of these services and products to us may conflict with our interests.

Risks Related to Pricing and Exchange Rate

Our operations are affected by the volatility of prices for crude oil, refined products and natural gas. We set our crude oil median prices monthly based on the international trading prices for crude oil.

In recent years, international prices for crude oil have fluctuated substantially in response to changes in global and regional economy, politics and supply and demand for crude oil. We do not have, and will not have, control over factors affecting international prices for crude oil. Fluctuations and volatility in crude oil prices have a significant impact in our results of operations. A decline in crude oil prices may reduce revenues from, and may result in a loss in, our exploration and production segment. For example, since the beginning of March 2020, the international crude oil price has fallen sharply due to a pessimistic outlook on the world economy affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and oversupply of crude oil in the global market. The decline in international crude oil prices is expected to greatly affect the Company’s upstream business profits and oil and gas import costs, and affect the Company’s downstream business profits through China’s pricing mechanism of refined oil products, thereby adversely affecting the Company’s overall sales revenue and profits. Further, if crude oil prices remain at a low level for a prolonged period, our company would be required to determine and estimate whether our oil and gas assets may suffer impairment and, if so, the amount of the impairment. An increase in crude oil prices may, however, increase the production costs of refined products, reduce demand for our products and affect our operating profits.

The PRC government has gradually improved its refined oil pricing mechanism. When there is a change in the average crude oil price in the international market during a given time period, the PRC government can adjust refined oil prices. When international crude oil price experiences sustained increases or becomes significantly volatile, the PRC government may increase its control over the refined oil prices. As a result, the regulation on refined product prices by the PRC government may reduce our profit and cause our refining assets to suffer impairment.

We negotiate the actual settlement price with natural gas users within the price range permitted by the PRC government. When the domestic price is lower than the international natural gas price, the cost of our imported natural gas will be higher than the sales price of our natural gas, which may reduce our revenues and profit, or result in losses, cause our natural gas assets to suffer impairment.

We receive most of our revenues in Renminbi. A portion of our Renminbi revenues must be converted into other currencies to meet our foreign currency obligations. The existing foreign exchange limitations under the PRC laws and regulations could affect our ability to obtain foreign exchange through debt financing, or to obtain foreign exchange for capital expenditures. The value of Renminbi against U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions. The PRC government has implemented a floating exchange rate system to allow the value of the Renminbi to fluctuate within a regulated band based on market supply and demand and by reference to a basket of foreign currencies. Because most of our imports of crude oil, equipment and other materials and our outbound investments are settled in foreign currencies, the exchange rates between RMB and U.S. dollars and any other relevant foreign currencies may have an effect on our purchase costs and our investment costs.

 

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Risks Related to Environmental Protection and Safety Production

Compliance with changes in laws, regulations and obligations relating to environmental protection and safety production could result in substantial expenditures and reduced profitability from increases in operating costs. In recent years, the PRC government has implemented environmental protection and safety production laws and regulations and has gradually improved refined oil standards which have stricter requirements for our business, and led to an increase in our operating costs. In the future, the PRC government will implement more stringent environmental protection and safety production regulations and impose higher standards on refined oil products. Compliance with these new regulations and standards will increase our costs and expenses.

Our oil and gas exploration and production activities shall comply with relevant PRC environmental protection laws and regulations governing abandonment and disposal processes for oil and gas exploration and production activities. We have established standard abandonment procedures pursuant to these laws and regulations. We have included under our asset retirement obligations the costs for these abandonment activities and this asset retirement obligation is based on our best estimate of future abandonment expenditures. In addition, PRC national or local governments may enact stricter environmental protection regulations and our abandonment costs may increase as a result.

Exploring for, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas and producing and transporting refined products and chemical products involve many hazards. These hazards may result in fires, explosions, spills, blow-outs and other unexpected or dangerous conditions causing personal injuries or death, property damage, environmental damage and interruption of operations.

Some of our oil and natural gas fields are surrounded by residential areas or located in areas where natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods and sandstorms, tend to occur more frequently than in other areas. As with many other companies around the world that conduct similar businesses, we have experienced accidents that have caused property damage and personal injuries and death.

Significant operating hazards and natural disasters such as earthquake, tsunami and health epidemics such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, may cause partial interruptions to our operations and property and environmental damage that could have an adverse impact on our financial condition.

Risks Related to COVID-19

In January 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” and on March 11, 2020 it was declared a pandemic. Between January 2020 and the date of this report, the COVID-19 disease has spread to many countries, with the number of reported cases and related deaths increasing daily and, in many countries, exponentially. Many countries’ governments have imposed increasingly stringent restrictions to help avoid, or slow down, the spreading of COVID-19, including, for example, restrictions on international and local travel, public gatherings and participation in meetings, as well as closures of universities, schools, stores and restaurants, with some countries imposing strict curfews. In China, various forms of restrictions were imposed and continue to be in place, and there can be no assurance that these restrictions will not be extended further on one or more occasions. These measures have led to a significant decline in demand for, and prices of, our refined oil products and natural gas, and the restrictions are expected to have an adverse effect in the short to medium-term on our oil and gas business chains. Globally, these widespread restrictions in various countries across the world are expected to also result in a decrease in demand for oil, thereby also putting pressure on global oil prices.

We continue to monitor developments closely as the COVID-19 pandemic develops. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business will depend on a range of factors which we are not able to accurately predict, including the duration, severity and scope of the pandemic, the geographies impacted, the impact of the pandemic on economic activity in China and globally, and the nature and severity of measures adopted by governments. These factors include, but are not limited to:

 

   

The deterioration of socio-economic conditions and disruptions to our operations, such as its supply chain, or refining or distribution capabilities, which may result in increased costs due to the need for

 

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more complex supply chain arrangements, to expand existing facilities or to maintain inefficient facilities, or in a reduction of our sales volumes.

 

   

Reductions or volatility in demand for crude oil and refined and petrochemical products due to quarantine or other travel restrictions, economic hardship, retail closures or illness, which may impact our revenue and market share.

 

   

Significant volatility in financial markets (including exchange rate volatility) and measures adopted by governments and central banks that further restrict liquidity, which may limit our access to funds, lead to shortages of cash or increase the cost of raising such funds.

 

   

An adverse impact on our ability to engage in new, or consummate pending, strategic transactions on the agreed terms and timetable or at all.

As of the date of this report, there is significant uncertainty relating to the severity of the near- and long-term adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, global financial markets and the Chinese economy, and we are unable to accurately predict the near-term or long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section, such as those relating to marco-economic conditions, pricing and our liquidity. See also “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Marco Economic Conditions”, “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Pricing and Exchange Rate.” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Liquidity”.

Risks Related to Climate Change

In recent years, the oil industry has faced an increasingly severe challenge imposed by global climate change. Numerous international, domestic and regional treaties and agreements that restrict the emission of greenhouse gas have been executed and become effective. China and some other countries in which we operate have adopted, or are considering the adoption of, regulatory frameworks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These include adoption of carbon emission quota and trade regimes, carbon taxes, increased efficiency standards, and incentives or mandates for renewable energies. These requirements may lead to a substantial increase in our expenditures, make our products more expensive, lengthen our project time, reduce the demand for hydrocarbons, and shift hydrocarbon demand toward relatively low carbon sources such as natural gas. Current and pending greenhouse gas regulations may also increase our compliance costs, such as those for monitoring or sequestering emissions. As a result, our results of operations and our strategic investment may be adversely affected.

Risks Related to Insurance

Due to the fact that oil industry is susceptible to high and industry-specific risks in nature, the current ordinary commercial insurance cannot cover all the business areas in which we operate. We maintain insurance coverage against liability risks relating to assets that have significant operational risks, auto risks, and third-party liabilities for personal, property, and environmental risks, but not all, potential losses. We may suffer material losses resulting from uninsurable or uninsured risks or insufficient insurance coverage.

Risks Related to Oil and Gas Reserves

The crude oil and natural gas reserves data in this annual report are only estimates. The reliability of reserves estimates depends on a number of factors, assumptions and variables, such as the quality and quantity of our technical and economic data and the prevailing oil and gas prices applicable to our production, some of which are beyond our control and may prove to be incorrect over time. Results of drilling, testing and production after the date of estimates may require substantial upward or downward revisions in our reserves data. Our actual production, revenues and expenditures with respect to our reserves may differ materially from these estimates because of these revisions.

 

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We are actively pursuing business opportunities outside China to improve our international operations. We cannot assure you, however, that we can successfully locate sufficient, if any, alternative sources of crude oil supply due to the complexity of the international political, economic and other conditions. If we fail to obtain sufficient alternative sources of crude oil supply, our results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Related to Liquidity

We have made best endeavors to ensure an appropriate level of liquidity and financing ability. However, as we are currently making our efforts to find high-quality large-scale reserves, strengthening capacity building in key areas, constructing new, and expanding some existing, refinery and petrochemical facilities and constructing several natural gas and oil pipelines, we may have to make substantial capital expenditures and investments. We cannot assure you that the cash generated by our operations will be sufficient to fund these development plans or that our actual future capital expenditures and investments will not significantly exceed our current planned amounts. If either of these conditions arises, we may have to seek external financing to satisfy our capital needs. Our inability to obtain sufficient funding for our development plans could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Effectiveness of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

The SEC, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, has adopted rules requiring every public company in the United States to include a management report on such company’s internal control over financial reporting in its annual report, which contains management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, an independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Although our management concluded that our internal control over our financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 was effective, and our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report, which concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective in all material aspects as of December 31, 2019, we may discover other deficiencies in the course of our future evaluation of our internal control over our financial reporting and may be unable to remediate such deficiencies in a timely manner. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting on an ongoing basis, in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Moreover, effective internal control is necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and is important to prevent fraud. As a result, our failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which in turn could harm our business and negatively impact the trading prices of our ADSs, H Shares or A Shares.

Risks Related to Audit Reports Prepared by an Auditor who is not Inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

As a company with shares registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and traded publicly in the United States, our independent registered public accounting firm is required under the laws of the United States to be registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, and undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. The PCAOB, however, is currently unable to inspect a registered public accounting firm’s audit work relating to a company’s operations in China where the documentation of such audit work is located in China. Accordingly, our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit of our operations in China is not subject to the PCAOB inspection. In recent years, the SEC and the PCAOB have issued a number of joint statements highlighting continued challenges faced by the U.S. regulators in their oversight of financial statement audits of U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in China. As part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on access to audit and other

 

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information currently protected by national law, in particular the PRC’s, in June 2019, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced bills in both houses of the U.S. Congress that would require the SEC to maintain a list of issuers for which PCAOB is not able to inspect or investigate an auditor report issued by a foreign public accounting firm. The Ensuring Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges (EQUITABLE) Act prescribes increased disclosure requirements for these issuers and, beginning in 2025, the delisting from U.S. national securities exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange of issuers included on the SEC’s list for three consecutive years. Enactment of this legislation or other efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could cause investor uncertainty for affected issuers, including us, and the market price of our ADSs could be adversely affected. It is unclear if this proposed legislation would be enacted.

The PCAOB has conducted inspections of independent registered public accounting firms outside of China and has at times identified deficiencies in the audit procedures and quality control procedures of those accounting firms. Such deficiencies may be addressed in those accounting firms’ future inspection process to improve their audit quality. Due to the lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work undertaken in China, our investors do not have the benefit of the PCAOB inspection of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit work and audit quality control procedures.

Risks Related to SEC Litigation Against the “Big Four” PRC-based Accounting Firms

On January 22, 2014, Judge Cameron Elliot, an SEC administrative law judge, issued an initial decision suspending the Chinese member firms of the “Big Four” accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, from, among other things, practicing before the SEC for six months. In February 2014, the initial decision was appealed. While under appeal and in February 2015, the Chinese member firms of “Big Four” accounting firms reached a settlement with the SEC. As part of the settlement, each of the Chinese member firms of “Big Four” accounting firms agreed to settlement terms that include a censure, undertakings to make a payment to the SEC, procedures and undertakings as to future requests for documents by the SEC and possible additional proceedings and remedies should those undertakings not be adhered to.

Had the settlement terms not been adhered to, the Chinese member firms of “Big Four” accounting firms could have been suspended from practicing before the SEC, which could in turn delay the timely filing of our financial statements with the SEC. In addition, it could be difficult for us to timely identify and engage another registered public accounting firm to audit and issue an opinion on our financial statements and our internal control over financial reporting. A delinquency in our filing of the annual report with the SEC may result in the NYSE initiating delisting procedures, which could harm our reputation and have other material adverse effects on our overall growth and prospect.

Risks Related to Employee Misconduct

We may not be able to detect or prevent employee misconduct, including misconduct by senior management, and such misconduct may damage our reputation and could adversely affect the trading price of our ordinary shares and ADSs.

We have gradually reinforced and enhanced our internal control and corporate governance policies and procedures in order to strengthen our ability to detect and prevent employee misconduct. We cannot assure you, however, that we will be able to detect or prevent such misconduct in a timely fashion, or at all. If we fail to prevent employee misconduct, our reputation may be harmed, and the trading price of our ordinary shares and ADSs could be adversely affected.

Risks Related to Cyber Security

Our activities depend heavily on the reliability and security of our information technology (“IT”) systems. Our IT systems may suffer disruptions due to cyber-attack, computer intrusions and viruses, technical

 

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failure and disruptions, power and network outages or natural disasters. We have adopted multi-layer technological measures for prevention and detection of cybersecurity problems, and we also train our employees in order to improve their awareness and ability to detect and respond to cybersecurity situations. If our measures prove to be insufficient, the cybersecurity disruptions could damage or destroy assets, compromise business systems, result in proprietary information being altered, lost, or stolen; result in employee, customer, or third-party information or material intellectual property being compromised, cause physical harm to people or the environment, or otherwise disrupt our business operations. We could incur significant costs to remedy the effects of a major cybersecurity disruption in addition to costs in connection with resulting regulatory actions, litigation or reputational harm. As a result, we and our customers, employees, or third parties could be adversely affected, potentially having a material adverse effect on our business and financial conditions.

Item 4 — INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

Introduction

History and Development of Our Company

Our legal name is “中国石油天然气股份有限公司” and its English translation is PetroChina Company Limited.

We are the largest oil and gas producer and seller occupying a leading position in the oil and gas industry in the PRC and one of the largest companies in the world. We are engaged in a broad range of petroleum and natural gas related activities, including the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas; the refining of crude oil and petroleum products, as well as the production and marketing of basic petrochemical products, derivative chemical products and other chemical products; the marketing of refined oil products and trading; and the transmission of natural gas, crude oil and refined oil products as well as the sale of natural gas.

Currently, substantially all of our crude oil and natural gas reserves and production-related assets are located in China. Our exploration, development and production activities commenced in the early 1950s. Over more than six decades, we have conducted crude oil and natural gas exploration activities in many regions of China.

We commenced limited refining activities in the mid-1950s. Our chemicals operations commenced in the early 1950s. In the early 1960s, we began producing ethylene. Our natural gas transmission and marketing activities commenced in Sichuan in Southwestern China in the 1950s.

We have increased our efforts to pursue attractive business opportunities outside China as part of our business growth strategy to utilize both domestic and international resources to strengthen our competitiveness. Since 2005, we have acquired interests in various oil and natural gas assets in several countries, which significantly expanded our overseas operations and effectively increased our oil and gas reserves and production volumes. We are currently assessing the feasibility of making further investments in international oil and gas markets. At the same time, we have been maintaining certain proportion of imported crude oil and natural gas in accordance with our needs. In 2019, we imported approximately 711.0 million barrels of crude oil, as compared to 640.6 million barrels and 684.9 million barrels of crude oil in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

We were established as a joint stock company with limited liability under the Company Law of the PRC on November 5, 1999 as part of a restructuring in which CNPC transferred to us most of the assets and liabilities of CNPC relating to its exploration and production, refining and marketing, chemicals and natural gas businesses.

On April 7, 2000, we completed a global offering of H Shares and ADSs. In September 2005, we completed a follow-on offering of over 3 billion H Shares at the price of HK$6.00 per share. In October 2007, we issued 4 billion A Shares at an issue price of RMB16.7 per share. The A Shares were listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on November 5, 2007. As of December 31, 2019, CNPC beneficially owned 146,882,339,136 A

 

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Shares and 291,518,000 H Shares in us, representing approximately 80.41% of our share capital in aggregate. The H Shares held by CNPC were through Fairy King Investments Limited, an overseas wholly owned subsidiary of CNPC.

For a description of our principal subsidiaries, see Note 18 to our consolidated financial statements.

Our headquarters are located at 9 Dongzhimen North Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, 100007, and our telephone number at this address is (86-10) 5998-2622. Our website address is www.petrochina.com.cn. The information on our website is not part of this annual report. Our annual report on form 20-F and other reports filed electronically with the SEC can be found on the SEC’s website www.sec.gov.

Our Corporate Organization Structure

The following chart illustrates our corporate organization structure as of December 31, 2019.

 

 

LOGO

 

(1)

Indicates approximate shareholding.

(2)

Indicates approximate shareholding, including the 291,518,000 H Shares indirectly held by CNPC as of December 31, 2019 through Fairy King Investments Limited, a wholly owned overseas subsidiary of CNPC, and not including the 5,871,476,228 A Shares transferred to and held in a trust account as collaterals for the exchangeable bonds issued by CNPC.

(3)

Includes PetroChina Exploration & Development Research Institute, PetroChina Planning & Engineering Institute, IT Service Center, PetroChina Petrochemical Research Institute and several other companies.

Acquisitions and Divestment

On September 27, 2018, we entered into an equity purchase agreement with Total S.A. to acquire the 22.407% equity interest held by Total S.A. in Dalian West Pacific Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (“Dalian West Pacific”). On December 6, 2018, we entered into an equity purchase agreement with each of Sinochem Group Co., Ltd. and Sinochem International Oil (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd., to acquire 8.424% and 25.208% equity interests in Dalian West Pacific, respectively. On May 17, 2019, the transaction was completed. Upon the completion of the transaction, together with our existing equity interest, we held a total equity interest of 84.475% in Dalian West Pacific and it became one of our principal subsidiaries. We have accounted for this transaction as combination of entities under common control and restated our financial statements and certain of our operating data, including volumes of imported crude oil, production capacity of refineries, production and sales volumes of refined and chemical products, average realized prices of refined products, ect., as if Dalian West Pacific was consolidated since the earliest year presented.

For information on capital expenditures, please see “Item 5 — Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Capital Expenditures and Investments.”

 

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Exploration and Production

We engage in crude oil and natural gas exploration, development and production. Substantially all of our total estimated proved crude oil and natural gas reserves are located in China, principally in Northeastern, Northern, Southwestern and Northwestern China. Meanwhile, we have enhanced our overseas cooperation and expanded our strategic presence in five major overseas oil and gas cooperation regions by conducting new project development. In 2019, the crude oil and natural gas produced by us at overseas regions accounted for 18.7% and 7.0% of our total production of crude oil and natural gas, respectively.

We currently hold exploration and exploitation licenses for oil and gas (including coal seam gas) covering a total area of approximately 288.0 million acres, including the exploration licenses covering a total area of approximately 256.9 million acres and the exploitation licenses covering a total area of approximately 31.1 million acres.

The following table sets forth the financial and operating data of our exploration and production segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2017      2018      2019  

Revenue (RMB in millions)

     505,430        658,712        676,320  

Profit from operations (RMB in millions)

     15,475        73,519        96,097  

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves

        

Crude oil (million barrels)

     7,481.3        7,640.8        7,253.3  

Natural gas (Bcf)

     76,887.6        76,467.0        76,236.0  

Production

        

Crude oil (million barrels)

     887.0        890.3        909.3  

Natural gas for sale (Bcf)

     3,423.4        3,607.6        3,908.0  

Reserves

As of December 31, 2019, our total estimated proved reserves of crude oil was approximately 7,253.3 million barrels and our total estimated proved reserves of natural gas was approximately 76,236.0 Bcf. As of December 31, 2019, proved developed reserves for crude oil and natural gas accounted for 75.5% and 52.3% of our total proved crude oil and natural gas reserves, respectively. Total proved hydrocarbon reserves, including our overseas crude oil reserves of 753.5 million barrels and overseas natural gas reserves of 1,702.9 Bcf, decreased by 2.1% from approximately 20,385.3 million BOE as of December 31, 2018 to approximately 19,959.3 million BOE as of December 31, 2019. Natural gas as a percentage of total proved hydrocarbon reserves increased from 62.5% as of December 31, 2018 to 63.7% as of December 31, 2019.

Approximately 54% and 33% of our estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, were assessed by our internal assessment team and audited by our independent engineering consultants. The other part of our estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 and all of the estimated proved reserves as of 2017 were based on the assessment performed by our independent engineering consultants according to the reserves assessment methodology generally adopted in the U.S. Our independent engineering consultants for 2017, 2018 and 2019 were DeGolyer and MacNaughton, Ryder Scott Company L.P., GLJ Petroleum Consultants and McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. Our reserves estimates include only crude oil and natural gas which we believe can be reasonably produced within the current terms of our production licenses or within the terms of the licenses which we are reasonably certain can be renewed. See “Regulatory Matters — Exploration Licenses and Production Licenses” for a discussion of our production licenses. Also see “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Oil and Gas Reserves” for a discussion of the uncertainty inherent in the estimation of proved reserves.

 

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Our reserves data in 2017, 2018 and 2019 were prepared in accordance with the SEC’s rules on oil and gas reporting.

Internal Controls Over Reserves Estimates

We have appointed a Reserves Assessment Directing Team, or the RAD Team. The leader of the RAD Team is our vice president in charge of our upstream business.

We have implemented a practicing professional certification regime to supervise our employees engaged in oil and gas reserves evaluation and auditing functions. We have set up a team of reserves auditors covering our headquarter office and regional companies to perform reserves evaluation and audits. Meanwhile, we have established a special reserves management department in our exploration and production segment. Each of the officers and employees of that department has over 20 years of experience in oil industry and many years of experience in SEC-guided reserves evaluation. All of the members of that department have been recognized as national-level reserves experts. Each regional company has established a reserves management committee and a multi-disciplinary reserves research office. Mr. Duan Xiaowen from the Reserves Administration Division of our exploration and production branch company, is the person in charge of our reserves estimation. Mr. Duan holds a bachelor’s degree in geology and a master’s degree in business administration. He has over 25 years of work experience in oil and gas exploration and development industry and has been engaged in reserves estimate and management for a long time. Since 2008, Mr. Duan has been involved in the supervision of reserves estimation and management in our company. In 2016, Mr. Duan became the division head primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of the reserves estimates, estimation technology and management. The reserves research offices of the regional companies are responsible for estimating newly discovered reserves and updating the estimates of existing reserves. The results of our oil and gas reserves assessment are subject to a two-level review by both the regional companies and our exploration and production branch company, with final examination and approval by the RAD Team.

In addition, we commissioned independent assessment firms to independently reassess or audit our annually assessed proved reserves in accordance with relevant SEC rules. We disclose the reserves in accordance with the SEC requirements.

Third-Party Reserves Reports

DeGolyer and MacNaughton, an independent petroleum engineering consulting firm based in the United States, carried out an independent assessment and audit of our reserves in China and certain other countries as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Mr. Thomas C. Pence, a senior vice president of DeGolyer and MacNaughton, is primarily responsible for supervising the preparation of our reserves report. Mr. Pence is a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, a member of the International Society of Petroleum Engineers, and has over 36 years of experience in oil and gas reservoir studies and reserves evaluations.

Ryder Scott Company, L.P. (“Ryder Scott”), an independent petroleum engineering consulting firm based in the United States, carried out an independent assessment of certain of our selected petroleum assets such as in Chad, West Qurna and Peru as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Mr. Timour Baichev, a vice president of Ryder Scott, was responsible for overseeing the estimate of the reserves, future production and income as stated in the reserves report. Mr. Timour Baichev is a licensed professional engineer and has over 35 years of experience in the petroleum reserves estimation and evaluation.

GLJ Petroleum Consultants (“GLJ”), a petroleum consulting firm based in Canada, carried out an independent assessment of our reserves for certain gas and oil properties in Canada as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Ms. Trisha S. MacDonald was the project manager for the evaluation. She is a senior engineer and has over 10 years of relevant experience.

 

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McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd., a petroleum consulting firm with its headquarters in Canada, carried out an independent assessment of our reserves held through PetroKazakhstan Inc. as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Mr. Cam T. Boulton, an executive vice president of McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd., was responsible for supervising the preparation of our reserves report. Mr. Boulton is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and a member of Society of Petroleum Engineers. He has over 10 years’ experience in oil and gas reservoir evaluation.

None of the above consulting firms or their partners, senior officers or employees has any direct or indirect financial interest in our company and the remunerations to the firms are not in any way contingent upon reported reserves estimates.

For detailed information about our net proved reserves estimates, please refer to the summary reports of reserves filed herewith as exhibits to this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

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The following table sets forth our estimated proved reserves (including proved developed reserves and proved undeveloped reserves), proved developed reserves and proved undeveloped reserves of crude oil and natural gas as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     Crude Oil and
Condensate
    Natural Gas(1)     Combined  
     (Million barrels)     (Bcf)     (BOE, in millions)  

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves On a consolidated basis:

      

Reserves as of December 31, 2016

     7,437.8       78,711.8       20,556.4  

Revisions of previous estimates

     486.2       (1,750.8     194.6  

Extensions and discoveries

     346.3       3,350.0       904.6  

Improved recovery

     98.0       —         98.0  

Purchased

     —         —         —    

Production for the year

     (887.0     (3,423.4     (1,457.7

Reserves as of December 31, 2017

     7,481.3       76,887.6       20,295.9  

Revisions of previous estimates

     334.7       (1,377.9     105.2  

Extensions and discoveries

     427.5       4,564.9       1,188.3  

Improved recovery

     95.9       —         95.9  

Purchased

     191.7       —         191.7  

Production for the year

     (890.3     (3,607.6     (1,491.7

Reserves as of December 31, 2018

     7,640.8       76,467.0       20,385.3  

Revisions of previous estimates

     (49.7     (765.6     (177.1

Extensions and discoveries

     480.6       4,442.6       1,221.0  

Improved recovery

     90.9       —         90.9  

Production for the year

     (909.3     (3,908.0     (1,560.8

Reserves as of December 31, 2019

     7,253.3       76,236.0       19,959.3  

Proved developed reserves

      

As of December 31, 2017

     5,592.9       39,242.6       12,133.2  

Of which: domestic

     5,037.0       37,325.4       11,257.9  

Overseas

     555.9       1,917.2       875.3  

As of December 31, 2018

     5,843.1       40,128.2       12,531.1  

Of which: domestic

     5,203.4       38,433.2       11,609.0  

Overseas

     639.7       1,695.0       922.1  

As of December 31, 2019

     5,473.8       39,869.6       12,118.7  

Of which: domestic

     4,840.0       38,376.3       11,236.0  

Overseas

     633.8       1,493.3       882.7  

Proved undeveloped reserves

      

As of December 31, 2017

     1,888.4       37,645.0       8,162.7  

Of which: domestic

     1,584.9       37,376.7       7,814.3  

Overseas

     303.5       268.3       348.4  

As of December 31, 2018

     1,797.7       36,338.8       7,854.2  

Of which: domestic

     1,626.4       36,046.9       7,634.2  

Overseas

     171.3       291.9       220.0  

As of December 31, 2019

     1,779.5       36,366.4       7,840.6  

Of which: domestic

     1,659.8       36,156.8       7,686.0  

Overseas

     119.7       209.6       154.6  

Share of proved developed and undeveloped reserves in associates and joint ventures calculated by the equity method

      

As of December 31, 2017

     395.3       372.3       457.3  

As of December 31, 2018

     321.4       429.4       392.9  

As of December 31, 2019

     287.1       393.6       352.7  

 

(1)

Represents natural gas remaining after field separation for condensate removal and reduction for flared gas.

As of December 31, 2019, our total proved developed and undeveloped reserves on consolidated basis and on equity method, were 20,312 million BOE, including 7,540 million barrels of crude oil and condense, and 76,629.6 bcf of natural gas.

Our proved undeveloped reserves were 7,840.6 million BOE as of December 31, 2019. The main changes in our proved undeveloped reserves in 2019 included (i) an increase of 1,221.0 million BOE through extensions and

 

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discoveries; (ii) an increase of 90.9 million BOE through improved recovery; (iii) a decrease of 91.3 million BOE due to our optimization adjustment in the investment plans with respect to certain existing proved undeveloped reserves considering certain new discoveries; and (iv) the conversion of 1,234.2 million BOE of proved undeveloped reserves into proved developed reserves. In 2019, we spent RMB 166,115 million on developing proved undeveloped reserves. The overwhelming majority of our proved undeveloped reserves were situated around the oil fields that are currently producing. The majority of our proved undeveloped reserves are already scheduled for development within five years after initial booking.

Some of our proved undeveloped reserves of natural gas are being developed more than five years after their initial disclosure primarily due to the effect of long-term natural gas supply contracts. The sale of natural gas produced from our reserves located in China is subject to our long-term contractual obligations to provide a stable supply of natural gas to customers. We sell all of the natural gas through our pipelines and under long-term supply arrangements with customers.

There are mainly two types of long-term supply arrangements. The first is multi-year supply contracts with terms ranging from 20 to 30 years that can be extended upon mutual agreement. The second type is renewable annual contracts. The majority of the natural gas produced from our gas fields in China is put into our nationwide, long-range pipeline system to be sold to customers who have entered into multi-year supply contracts with us in the areas where the long-range pipeline system covers. A small portion of the natural gas produced by our company is put into local or internal pipeline systems to be sold to customers in the areas adjacent to our gas fields. These customers typically have formed de-facto long-term relationships with our company over the years and enter into supply contracts with us before the year end to determine the amount of gas to be purchased for the next year, with such contracts being renewed every year. In general, our supply relationships with customers under the annual contracts have existed for more than ten years.

Mainly as a result of our contractual obligations to ensure a long-term, stable supply of natural gas to customers, we must maintain a relatively large amount of proved undeveloped natural gas reserves and develop them over an extended period of time (in some cases, longer than five years).

The following tables set forth our crude oil and natural gas proved reserves and proved developed reserves by region as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     As of December 31,  
     2017      2018      2019  
     Proved
Developed
and
Undeveloped
     Proved
Developed
     Proved
Developed
and
Undeveloped
     Proved
Developed
     Proved
Developed
and
Undeveloped
     Proved
Developed
 
     (Million barrels)  

Crude oil reserves

                 

Daqing

     1,513.7        1,283.9        1,487.4        1,272.5        1,300.9        1,137.4  

Changqing

     2,049.2        1,413.9        2,095.2        1,423.6        2,098.7        1,376.2  

Xinjiang

     927.3        855.9        1,000.0        894.6        975.8        834.3  

Other regions(1)

     2,991.1        2,039.2        3,058.2        2,252.4        2,877.9        2,125.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     7,481.3        5,592.9        7,640.8        5,843.1        7,253.3        5,473.8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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     As of December 31,  
     2017      2018      2019  
     Proved
Developed
and
Undeveloped
     Proved
Developed
     Proved
Developed
and
Undeveloped
     Proved
Developed
     Proved
Developed
and
Undeveloped
     Proved
Developed
 
     (Bcf)  

Natural gas reserves(2)

                 

Changqing

     25,509.2        9,107.4        25,425.8        9,406.5        25,589.5        9,362.5  

Tarim

     22,918.7        14,054.7        22,805.9        13,844.9        22,633.8        14,184.2  

Chuanyu

     13,838.0        6,756.5        13,882.7        7,857.5        14,421.5        7,953.2  

Other regions(1)

     14,621.7        9,324.0        14,352.6        9,019.3        13,591.2        8,369.7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     76,887.6        39,242.6        76,467.0        40,128.2        76,236.0        39,869.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Represents other oil regions in China and our overseas oil and gas fields.

(2)

Represents natural gas remaining after field separation for condensate removal and reduction for flared gas.

Exploration and Development

We are currently conducting exploration and development efforts in 12 provinces, two municipalities under the direct administration of the central government and three autonomous regions in China as well as in certain regions in other countries. We believe that we have more extensive experience in the exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas than any of our principal competitors in China.

The following table sets forth the number of wells we drilled, or in which we participated, and the results thereof, for the periods indicated.

 

Year

        Daqing      Xinjiang      Changqing      Others(1)      Total  
2017                  
   Net exploratory wells drilled(2)      217        132        868        608        1,825  
  

Crude oil

     184        69        539        346        1,138  
  

Natural gas

     13        11        59        108        191  
  

Dry(3)

     20        52        270        154        496  
   Net development wells drilled(2)      3,205        1,520        6,020        3,731        14,476  
  

Crude oil

     3,185        1,504        4,217        2,898        11,804  
  

Natural gas

     10        13        1,746        820        2,589  
  

Dry(3)

     10        3        57        13        83  
2018                  
  

Net exploratory wells drilled(2)

     231        130        885        532        1,778  
  

Crude oil

     207        100        503        299        1,109  
  

Natural gas

     15        11        65        89        180  
  

Dry(3)

     9        19        317        144        489  
   Net development wells drilled(2)      3,421        1,630        6,233        3,893        15,177  
  

Crude oil

     3,398        1,619        4,086        2,990        12,093  
  

Natural gas

     16        11        2,098        885        3,010  
  

Dry(3)

     7        —          49        18        74  
2019                  
  

Net exploratory wells drilled(2)

     211        157        584        627        1,579  
  

Crude oil

     195        148        359        381        1,083  
  

Natural gas

     2        9        49        109        169  
  

Dry(3)

     14        —          176        137        327  
   Net development wells drilled(2)      3,008        1,274        5,948        4,273        14,503  
  

Crude oil

     2,990        1,270        4,319        3,243        11,822  
  

Natural gas

     12        4        1,586        1,007        2,609  
  

Dry(3)

     6        —          43        23        72  

 

(1)

Represents the Liaohe, Jilin, Huabei, Dagang, Sichuan, Tarim, Tuha, Qinghai, Jidong, Yumen, Zhejiang, southern and other oil regions.

(2)

“Net” wells refer to the wells after deducting interests of others. No third parties own any interests in any of our wells.

(3)

“Dry” wells are wells with insufficient reserves to sustain commercial production.

 

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We had 885 wells in the process of being drilled and 7,843 wells with multiple completions as of December 31, 2019.

Oil-and-Gas Properties

The following table sets forth our interests in developed and undeveloped acreage by oil region and in productive crude oil and natural gas wells as of December 31, 2019.

 

                   Acreage(1)
(Thousand acres)
 
     Productive Wells(1)      Developed      Undeveloped  

Oil Region

   Crude
Oil
     Natural
Gas
     Crude
Oil
     Natural
Gas
     Crude
Oil
     Natural
Gas
 

Daqing

     77,788        650        1,289.15        104.90        637.13        139.29  

Changqing

     66,537        18,620        1,553.13        6,694.83        914.67        2,908.71  

Xinjiang

     35,171        305        428.70        63.44        289.04        23.47  

Other regions(2)

     76,079        6,351        1,735.10        1,606.28        998.61        2,568.13  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     255,575        25,926        5,006.08        8,469.45        2,839.45        5,639.60  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Includes all wells and acreage in which we have an interest. No third parties own any interests in any of our wells or acreage.

(2)

Represents the Liaohe, Jilin, Huabei, Dagang, Southwestern, Tarim, Tuha, Qinghai, Jidong, Yumen, Zhejiang, Southern and other oil regions.

Production

The following table sets forth our historical average net daily crude oil and natural gas production by region and our average sales price for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     For the Year Ended
December 31,
     % of
2019 Total
 
     2017      2018      2019  

Crude oil production(1)

           

(thousand barrels per day, except percentages or otherwise indicated)

           

Daqing

     668.8        632.6        608.7        24.4  

Changqing

     479.9        480.9        488.8        19.6  

Xinjiang

     229.0        232.2        252.1        10.1  

Other(2)

     1,052.4        1,093.4        1,141.6        45.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     2,430.1        2,439.1        2,491.2        100.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Annual production (million barrels)

     887.0        890.3        909.3     

Average sales price (US$ per barrel)

     50.64        68.28        60.96     

Natural gas production(1)(3)

           

(million cubic feet per day, except percentages or otherwise indicated)

           

Changqing

     3,121.7        3,275.3        3,481.3        32.5  

Tarim

     2,277.3        2,353.4        2,535.2        23.7  

Chuanyu

     1,844.1        1,979.9        2,375.6        22.2  

Other(4)

     2,136.1        2,275.3        2,314.9        21.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     9,379.2        9,883.9        10,707.0        100.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Annual production (Bcf)

     3,423.4        3,607.6        3,908.0     

Average realized price (US$ per Mcf)

     5.18        5.85        5.39     

 

(1)

Production volumes for each region include our share of the production from all of our cooperative projects with foreign companies in that region.

(2)

Represents production from the Liaohe, Jilin, Huabei, Dagang, Tarim, Tuha, Qinghai, Jidong, Yumen and other oil regions and our share of overseas production as a result of our acquisition of overseas assets.

(3)

Represents production of natural gas for sale.

(4)

Represents production from the Daqing, Qinghai, Tuha, Xinjiang, Liaohe, Huabei, Dagang, Jilin, Jidong, Yumen and other oil and gas regions and our share of overseas production as a result of our acquisition of overseas assets.

 

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In 2019, we supplied a substantial majority of our total crude oil sales to our own refineries. In addition, we and Sinopec supply crude oil to each other’s refineries to allow supplies to be easily obtained from nearby resources.

The following table sets forth our average sales prices and average lifting costs of crude oil and natural gas of our company on an overall basis and those in China in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     Crude Oil Average
Realized Prices

(RMB/ton)
     Natural Gas
Average Realized Prices
(RMB/Kilostere)
     Average Lifting
Cost

(US$/BOE)
 

2017

        

Overall

     2,526        1,235        11.53  

—China

     2,494        1,225        12.71  

2018

        

Overall

     3,338        1,367        12.31  

—China

     3,289        1,338        13.55  

2019

        

Overall

     3,107        1,313        12.11  

—China

     3,097        1,437        13.29  

Principal Oil and Gas Regions

Daqing Oil Region

The Daqing oil region, our largest oil and gas producing property, is located in the Songliao basin and covers an area of approximately one million acres. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, our crude oil production volume in the Daqing oil region was 668.8 thousand barrels, 632.6 thousand barrels and 608.7 thousand barrels per day, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, we produced crude oil from 40 fields in the Daqing oil region.

As of December 31, 2019, our proved crude oil reserves in the Daqing oil region were 1,300.9 million barrels, representing 17.9% of our total proved crude oil reserves. As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the proved crude oil reserves in our Daqing oil region were 1,513.7 million barrels and 1,487.4 million barrels, respectively. In 2019, the crude oil reserves-to-production ratio of the Daqing oil region was 5.7 years.

Daqing’s crude oil has low sulfur and high paraffin content. As many refineries in China, particularly those in Northeastern China, are configured to refine Daqing crude oil, we have a stable market for the crude oil we produce in the Daqing oil region.

Changqing Oil and Gas Region

The Changqing oil and gas region covers parts of Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia and Shanxi Province. In 2019, we discovered the Qingcheng oilfied in the Changqing oil and gas region. As of December 31, 2019, the proved reserves in the Qingcheng oilfied were 121.1 million barrels. As of December 31, 2019, our proved crude oil reserves in the Changqing oil region were 2,098.7 million barrels, representing 28.9% of our total proved crude oil reserves. In 2019, our crude oil production in the Changqing oil region averaged 488.8 thousand barrels per day, representing approximately 19.6% of our total daily crude oil production. In 2019, the crude oil reserves-to-production ratio at the Changqing oil region was 11.8 years.

In the early 1990s, we discovered the Changqing oil and gas region, which had total proved natural gas reserves of 25,589.5 Bcf as of December 31, 2019, representing 33.6% of our total proved natural gas reserves. In January 2001, we discovered the Sulige gas field in the Changqing oil and gas region, which had total proved natural gas reserves of 14,913.9 Bcf as of December 31, 2019. Sulige gas field is currently the largest gas field in China. In 2019, the Changqing oil and gas region produced 1,270.7 Bcf of natural gas for sale, representing an increase of 6.3% from 1,195.5 Bcf in 2018.

 

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Xinjiang Oil Region

The Xinjiang oil region is one of our four largest crude oil producing properties and is located in the Junggar basin in Northwestern China. We commenced our operations in the Xinjiang oil region in 1951. The Xinjiang oil region covers a total area of approximately 900,000 acres.

As of December 31, 2019, our proved crude oil reserves in the Xinjiang oil region were 975.8 million barrels, representing 13.5% of our total proved crude oil reserves. In 2019, our oil fields in the Xinjiang oil region produced an average of 252.1 thousand barrels of crude oil per day, representing approximately 10.1% of our total daily crude oil production. In 2019, the crude oil reserves-to-production ratio at the Xinjiang oil region was 10.6 years.

Tarim Oil and Gas Region

The Tarim oil and gas region is located in the Tarim basin in Northwestern China with a total area of approximately 590,000 acres. In 1998, we discovered the Kela 2 natural gas field in the Tarim oil and gas region. In 2019, we discovered the Bozi-Dabei gas field in the Tarim oil and gas region. As of December 31, 2019, the proved reserves in the Bozi-Dabei gas field were 3,937.3 Bcf. As of December 31, 2019, the proved natural gas reserves in the Tarim oil and gas region were 22,633.8 Bcf, representing 29.7% of our total proved natural gas reserves.

In 2019, we produced 925.4 Bcf of natural gas for sale in the Tarim oil and gas region. We have completed the construction of the pipelines to deliver natural gas in the Tarim oil and gas region to the central and Eastern regions of China where there is strong demand for natural gas transmitted through our West-East Gas Pipelines.

Chuanyu Gas Region

We began natural gas exploration and production in the Chuanyu gas region in the 1950s. The Chuanyu gas region covers a total area of approximately 2.3 million acres. The natural gas reserves-to-production ratio in the Chuanyu gas region was approximately 16.6 years in 2019. As of December 31, 2019, we had 115 natural gas fields under development in the Chuanyu gas region. In 2019, we discovered the Sichuan shale gas field in the Chuanyu gas region. As of December 31, 2019, the proved reserves in the Sichan shale gas field were 1,405.3 Bcf.

As of December 31, 2019, our proved natural gas reserves in the Chuanyu gas region were 14,421.5 Bcf, representing 18.9% of our total proved natural gas reserves and an increase of 3.9% from 13,882.7 Bcf as of December 31, 2018. In 2019, our natural gas production for sale in the Chuanyu gas region reached 867.1 Bcf, representing 22.2% of our total natural gas production for sale.

 

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Refining and Chemicals

We now operate 30 enterprises located in nine provinces, four autonomous regions and three municipalities to engage in refining of crude oil and petroleum products, as well as the production and marketing of basic petrochemical products, derivative chemical products and other chemical products.

The comparative data for 2017 and 2018 throughout the section of “Refining and Chemical” was restated to reflect our acquisition of the interest in Dalian West Pacific as if it was consolidated from the first financial year presented. Please refer to “Item 4 — Information on the Company — Acquisitions and Divestment”) and Note 40 to our consolidated financial statements.

The following table sets forth the financial and operating data of our refining and chemicals segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2017      2018      2019  

Revenue (RMB in millions)

     735,486        911,224        902,679  

Profit from operations (RMB in millions)

     43,075        44,701        13,764  

Crude oil processed (million barrels)

     1,067.9        1,180.5        1,228.4  

Crude oil primary distillation capacity (million barrels/year)

     1,420.9        1,454.2        1,463.0  

Production of refined oil products (thousand tons)

     97,499        111,148        117,791  

Refining

Refined Products

We produce a wide range of refined products at our refineries. Some of the refined products are for our internal consumption and used as raw materials in our petrochemical operation. The table below sets forth production volumes for our principal refined products for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  

Principal Product

   2017      2018      2019  
     (In thousand tons)  

Diesel

     50,053        54,311        54,628  

Gasoline

     39,074        45,794        50,430  

Kerosene

     8,372        11,043        12,733  

Lubricants

     1,636        1,600        1,630  

Fuel oil

     2,115        1,937        1,672  

Naphtha

     10,242        11,950        12,829  

Our Refineries

Most of our refineries are strategically located close to our crude oil production and storage bases along our crude oil and refined product transmission pipelines and railways, which provide our refineries with secure supplies of crude oil and facilitate our distribution of refined products to the domestic markets.

In 2019, facing excessive oil refining capacity in China, to enhance our competition and efficiency in the refining and chemical business, we vigorously promoted the restructuring of refining and chemical products, actively increased the production of chemical products, while striving to reduce the production of refined oil products, with production of high value-added products increasing significantly and jet fuel and high-grade gasoline production achieving double-digit growth. We reduced the diesel-gasoline ratio from 1.19 in 2018 to 1.08 in 2019.

In 2017, 2018 and 2019, our exploration and production operations supplied approximately 63.8%, 56.7% and 55.7%, respectively, of the crude oil processed in our refineries.

 

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The table below sets forth certain operating statistics regarding our refineries as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     As of December 31,  
     2017      2018      2019  

Primary distillation capacity(1) (thousand barrels per day)

        

Jilin Petrochemical

     198.4        198.4        198.4  

Fushun Petrochemical

     222.7        222.7        222.7  

Lanzhou Petrochemical

     212.6        212.6        212.6  

Dushanzi Petrochemical

     202.4        202.4        202.4  

Dalian Petrochemical

     415.0        415.0        415.0  

Dalian West Pacific

     202.4        202.4        202.4  

Guangxi Petrochemical

     202.4        202.4        202.4  

Sichuan Petrochemical

     202.4        202.4        202.4  

Yunnan Petrochemical

     263.2        263.2        263.2  

Other refineries

     1,771.4        1,862.5        1886.8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     3,892.9        3,984.0        4,008.3  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Represents the primary distillation capacity of crude oil and condensate.

 

     As of December 31,  
     2017      2018      2019  

Refining throughput (thousand barrels per day)

        

Jilin Petrochemical

     181.6        164.4        186.1  

Fushun Petrochemical

     158.9        175.1        176.4  

Lanzhou Petrochemical

     178.3        187.7        185.2  

Dushanzi Petrochemical

     149.1        147.2        124.9  

Dalian Petrochemical

     217.4        323.0        324.4  

Dalian West Pacific

     139.6        158.0        146.0  

Guangxi Petrochemical

     143.3        186.6        196.5  

Sichuan Petrochemical

     147.5        131.5        177.2  

Yunnan Petrochemical

     81.4        204.4        216.9  

Other refineries

     1,528.6        1,556.4        1,632.0  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     2,925.7        3,234.3        3,365.6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the average utilization rate of the primary distillation capacity at our refineries was 79.1%, 82.5% and 85.1%, respectively, and the average yield for our four principal refined products (gasoline, kerosene, diesel and lubricants) at our refineries was 68.6%, 70.6% and 71.8%, respectively. “Yield” represents the number of tons of a refined product expressed as a percentage of the number of tons of crude oil from which that product is processed. In each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the overall refining yield at our refineries was 93.3%, 93.7% and 93.5%, respectively.

In 2019, Jilin Petrochemical, Fushun Petrochemical, Lanzhou Petrochemical, Dushanzi Petrochemical, Dalian Petrochemical, Dalian West Pacific, Guangxi Petrochemical, Sichuan Petrochemical and Yunnan Petrochemical were our leading refineries in terms of both primary distillation capacity and refining throughput.

To maintain efficient operations of our facilities and lower production costs, we have endeavored to achieve the most cost-efficient proportions of various types of crude oil in our refining process. We purchase a portion of our crude oil requirements from third-party international suppliers located in different countries and regions. In 2019, we purchased crude oil sourced from Iran and Russian companies which are subject to U.S. economic sanctions, and Sudan which is designated as a State Sponser of Terrorism by the U.S., for use in our refining operations. The revenue generated from our refineries from the crude oil sourced from the Russian companies Rosneft and Transneft, Iran and Sudan accounted for 3.2%, 0.08% and 0.1% of our total revenue in 2019. See “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Outbound Investments and Trading.”

 

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Chemicals

Most of our chemical plants are close to our refineries and are connected to the refineries by pipelines, providing additional production flexibility and opportunities for cost competitiveness. The raw materials required by our chemicals operations are mainly supplied by our own refineries.

Our Chemical Products

The table below sets forth the production volumes of our principal chemical products for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
       2017          2018          2019    
     (In thousand tons)  

Basic petrochemicals

        

Ethylene

     5,764        5,569        5,863  

Derivative petrochemicals

        

Synthetic resin

     9,404        9,165        9,580  

Synthetic fiber raw materials and polymer

     1,390        1,388        1,309  

Synthetic rubber

     809        869        910  

Other chemicals

        

Urea

     1,439        828        1,208  

We are one of the major producers of ethylene in China. We use the bulk of the ethylene we produce as a principal feedstock for the production of many chemical products, such as polyethylene. As of December 31, 2019, our annual ethylene production capacity was 6,010 thousand tons. We produce a number of synthetic resin products, including polyethylene, polypropylene and ABS. As of December 31, 2019, our annual production capacities for polyethylene, polypropylene and ABS were 5,062 thousand tons, 4,220 thousand tons and 705 thousand tons, respectively. 

Marketing of Chemicals

Our chemical products are distributed to a number of industries including the automotive, construction, electronics, medical manufacturing, printing, electrical appliances, household products, insulation, packaging, paper, textile, paint, footwear, agriculture and furniture industries.

The following table sets forth the sales volumes of our chemical products by principal product category for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  

Product

   2017      2018      2019  
     (In thousand tons)  

Derivative petrochemicals

  

Synthetic resin

     9,166.0        9,489.1        9,777.8  

Synthetic fiber

     76.9        75.8        39.1  

Synthetic rubber

     813.6        899.6        1,011.1  

Intermediates

     10,324.6        10,480.2        11,354.7  

Other chemicals

        

Urea

     1,171.8        732.3        1,561.2  

 

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Marketing

We engage in the marketing of refined products through 36 regional sales companies including two distribution branch companies, one lubricant branch company, one fuel oil company and one convenience store chain company, PetroChina uSmile Company Limited, operated under the trade name “uSmile”. These operations include the transportation and storage of the refined products, the wholesale, retail and export of gasoline, diesel, kerosene, lubricant, asphalt and other refined products, and non-oil business. In addition, with respect to our international trading sector, we have optimized the import and export resources, focused on synergies, actively expanded into the high-end markets, and maintained growth in trading volume and improved operation results.

The following table sets forth the financial and operating data of our marketing segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2017      2018     2019  

Revenue (RMB in millions)

     1,660,456        2,003,105       2,165,391  

Profit /(Loss) from operations (RMB in millions)

     8,279        (6,450     (565

External sales volume of refined oil products (thousand tons)*

     170,735        178,648       187,712  

 

*

The comparative data for 2017 and 2018 in the table was restated as if Dalian West Pacific was consolidated since the earliest year presented. Please refer to “Item 4 — Information on the Company — Acquisitions and Divestment” and Note 40 to our consolidated financial statements.

With respect to our domestic sales business, we market a wide range of refined products, including gasoline, diesel, kerosene and lubricants, through an extensive network of sales personnel and independent distributors and a broad wholesale and retail distribution system across China. As of December 31, 2019, our marketing network consisted of:

 

   

Numerous nationwide wholesale distribution outlets. Almost all of these outlets are located in high demand areas across China, particularly in the coastal areas, along major railways and along the Yangtze River; and

 

   

22,365 service stations, consisting of 20,955 service stations owned and operated by us and 1,410 franchised service stations owned and operated by third parties.

In addition, in order to adapt to changes in market condition and customer demand, we enhanced integrated marketing for refined products, fuel cards, non-oil business, lubricants and gas, and enhanced marketing through internet. We optimized our supply chain, upgraded the facilities and services at our gas stations, and enhanced the marketing of our non-oil businesses.

Our international trade business actively played a role in adjusting supply and demand, creating profit through business synergy. We optimized crude oil and natural gas imports, strengthened oil and gas sales, expanded refined oil exports and the high-end market, strengthened terminal network layout and cross-region and cross-city operations, enhanced transactions ability, and effectively managed operational risks.

The PRC government and other institutional customers, including railway, transportation and fishery operators, are long-term purchasers of the gasoline and diesel that we produce. We sell gasoline and diesel to these customers based on the supply prices for special customers published by the PRC government. See “— Regulatory Matters — Pricing — Refined Products” for a discussion of refined product pricing.

In 2017, 2018 and 2019, our share in China’s refined oil retail market was 37.0%, 36.4% and 36.7%, respectively.

 

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The following table sets forth our sales volumes of diesel, gasoline, kerosene and lubricants for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  

Product

   2017      2018      2019  
     (In thousand tons)  

Diesel

     87,324        86,904        90,163  

Gasoline

     65,293        71,125        76,366  

Kerosene*

     18,118        20,619        21,183  

Lubricants

     1,283        1,158        977  

 

*

The comparative data for 2017 and 2018 in the table was restated as if Dalian West Pacific was consolidated since the earliest year presented. Please refer to “Item 4 — Information on the Company — Acquisitions and Divestment” and Note 40 to our consolidated financial statements.

Wholesale Marketing

We sell refined products both directly and through independent distributors into various wholesale markets, as well as to utility, commercial, petrochemical, aviation, agricultural, fishery and transportation companies in China. Our gasoline and diesel sales also include the amount we transferred to our retail operations.

Retail Marketing

The weighted average sales volume of gasoline and diesel per business day at our service station network was 10.5 tons, 10.3 tons and 10.1 tons per service station in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

 

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Natural Gas and Pipeline

We are China’s largest natural gas transporter and seller in terms of sales volume. We sell natural gas primarily to industrial companies, power plants, fertilizer and chemical companies, commercial users and municipal utilities owned by local governments. In addition, we also transmit crude oil and refined products in the natural gas and pipeline segment.

The following table sets forth the financial and operating data of our natural gas and pipeline segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019:

 

     As of December 31 or Year
Ended December 31,
 
     2017      2018      2019  

Revenue (RMB in millions)

     295,786        362,626        391,023  

Profit from operations (RMB in millions)

     15,688        25,515        26,108  

Total length of natural gas pipelines (km)

     51,315        51,751        53,291  

Total length of crude oil pipeline (km)

     19,670        20,048        20,091  

Total length of refined oil products pipeline (km)

     11,389        11,728        13,762  

Total volume of natural gas sold (Bcf)

     7,026.2        7,654.7        9,149.8  

Our Principal Markets for Natural Gas

We sell our natural gas across China. Our natural gas supply covers all provinces, municipalities under direct administration of the central government and autonomous regions of China, other than Macau and Taiwan. We supply natural gas to Tibet by LNG tanker trucks.

The Bohai Rim is one of our principal markets for natural gas. The natural gas supplied to Bohai Rim is primarily sourced from the Changqing oil and gas region and transmitted through the Shaanxi to Beijing natural gas pipeline system.

The Yangtze River Delta and Southwestern region in China are also our principal markets. We supply natural gas to these regions primarily from our domestic production sites and through long-distance pipelines and by LNG tanker trucks.

In addition, provinces such as Inner Mogolia, Hubei, Anhui and Fujian consume more and more natural gas and have become another significant natural gas market of us.

Driven by environmental and efficiency concerns, the PRC government is increasingly encouraging industrial and residential use of natural gas. The PRC government has adopted a number of laws and regulations to require local governments to increase the use of clean energy, such as natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, to reduce carbon emissions and environmental pollution. Several local governments have adopted policies to facilitate an increase in natural gas consumption in order to reduce air pollution. The PRC government has also adopted preferential value-added tax rate for natural gas production. The current value-added tax rate for natural gas is 9%, while the value-added tax rate for crude oil and refined oil products is 13%. In 2017, the PRC government issued a new policy to accelerate the large-scale and high-efficient utilization of natural gas in urban gas, industrial fuel, gas-fired power generation and transportation, and to significantly increase the proportion of use of natural gas in primary energy consumption. The overall goal of the policy is that the proportion of natural gas in the primary energy consumption to reach around 10% by 2020 and 15% by 2030, and the underground gas storage to form an effective working gas volume of over 14.8 billion cubic meters by 2020 and over 35 billion cubic meters by 2030.

We believe that these policies have had a positive effect on the development and consumption of natural gas in our existing or potential markets for natural gas. We believe that these favorable policies will continue to benefit our natural gas business.

 

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Natural Gas Transmission Infrastructure

As of December 31, 2019, we owned and operated approximately 53,291 kilometers of natural gas pipelines in China, representing the vast majority of China’s onshore natural gas pipelines. Our existing natural gas pipelines form a national trunk network for natural gas supply and the regional natural gas supply networks in Northwestern, Southwestern, Northern and central China as well as the Yangtze River Delta. Our main natural gas pipelines in operation include the First West-East Gas Pipeline, the Second West-East Gas Pipeline, the Third West-East Gas Pipeline, Zhong County-Wuhan Gas Pipeline, the four Shaanxi-Beijing Gas Pipelines and the Sebei-Lanzhou Gas Pipelines. In 2019, our main natural gas pipelines under construction included the middle section of the China-Russia East Natural Gas Pipeline, the Fujian-Guangdong branch line of the Third West-East Gas Pipeline and a number of other interconnection projects.

The China-Russia East Natural Gas Pipeline will extend from Heihe to Shanghai with a total length of 3,691 kilometers and a designed annual throughput capacity of 38.0 billion cubic meters. The total length of the north section of the China-Russia East Natural Gas Pipeline is 715 kilometers, which has been completed and put into operation on December 2, 2019. The total length of the middle section will be 1,110 kilometers, which is expected to be completed and put into operation by November 2020. The total length of the south section will be 1,446 kilometers, which is expected to be completed and put into operation by June 2025.

In 2018, we started the construction of the Fujian-Guangdong branch line of the Third West-East Gas Pipeline, which has a total length of 575 kilometers and a designed annual throughput capacity of 5.8 billion cubic meters. We completed the construction of the Guangzhou-Chaozhou section of the branch line in December 2019.

Crude Oil Transportation Infrastructure

We have an extensive network for transportation, storage and distribution of crude oil, which covers many regions of China. As of December 31, 2019, we had crude oil pipelines of 20,091 kilometers. Our main crude oil pipelines in operation include the China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline, the Western Crude Oil Pipeline, the Northeastern Crude Oil Pipeline and the Lanzhou-Chengdu Crude Oil Pipeline.

Refined Product Transportation Infrastructure

As of December 31, 2019, we had refined product pipelines of 13,762 kilometers. Our main refined product pipelines in operation include the Lanzhou-Zhengzhou-Changsha Refined Oil Pipeline, the Western Refined Oil Pipeline, and the Lanzhou-Chengdu-Chongqing Refined Oil Pipeline. In 2019, we completed the construction of a major part of the Jinzhou-Zhengzhou Refined Oil Pipeline and expect to complete construction and put it into operation by the end of 2020. This line has a total length of 1,666.12 kilometers and a designed throughput capacity of 13 million tons per annum.

During the past three years, we have not experienced any delays in delivering natural gas, crude oil and refined products due to pipeline capacity constraints.

Reform of the Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Operation Mechanism

On March 19, 2019, the PRC government passed the Opinions on Implementation of the Reform of the Operation Mechanism of Oil and Gas Pipeline Network (the “Opinion”). According to the Opinion, the PRC government will carry out reforms of the oil and gas pipeline operation mechanism. An oil and gas pipeline network operator will be established, which will have diversified investors with state-owned capital holding the majority stake. The Opinion states that the PRC government will form an oil and gas market system with multi-channel suppliers in the upstream, an integrated pipeline network with high efficiency in the middle-stream, and a fully competitive market in the downstream, to improve the efficiency of oil and gas resource allocation. On

 

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May 24, 2019, a number of Chinese government agencies jointly issued the Regulations on the Fair Opening of Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Facilities, pursuant to which, from May 24, 2019, oil and gas pipeline network operators shall provide non-discriminatory services of oil and gas transportation, storage, gasification, loading and unloading, transshipment to users who meet the accessing conditions; without proper reasons, they must not delay the signing of, or refuse to sign service contracts with users who meet the accessing conditions, and must not impose unreasonable requirements. On December 9, 2019, the Chinese government established China Oil & Gas Pipeline Network Corporation (the “National Pipeline Network Company”). The National Pipeline Network Company is in discussions with the Company regarding a possible acquisition of certain pipeline assets from the Company. As at the date of this report, no definitive agreement has been reached. For this potential transaction, the Company will continue to adhere to the principles of fairness, equality and marketization in order to serve the interests of the shareholders of the Company as a whole. Please refer to “Item 3 — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Government Regulation”

Competition

As an oil and gas company operating in a competitive industry, we compete in each of our business segments in both China and international markets for desirable business prospects and for customers. Our principal competitors in China are China Petrochemical Corporation, or Sinopec Group, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC.

Exploration and Production Operations

We are the largest onshore oil and gas company in China in terms of proved crude oil and natural gas reserves as well as crude oil and natural gas production and sales. However, we compete with other domestic oil and gas companies for the acquisition of desirable crude oil and natural gas prospects. Similarly, we face some competition in the development of offshore oil and gas resources. In 2019, the Chinese government lifted the restrictions on foreign investment in oil and gas exploration and development, which had been limited to joint ventures and cooperation, introduced market competition mechanisms in the oil and gas industry to support private enterprises participating in oil and gas exploration and development. These policy changes mean that the barriers to entering the area of oil and gas exploration have been removed, and the Company’s exploration and development business may face heightened competition from foreign capital and private enterprises. In addition, the competition of international energy supply has intensified, the crude oil market continues to fluctuate, and price volatility has become frequent. We believe that our experience in crude oil and natural gas exploration and production and our advanced exploration and development technologies that are suitable for the diverse geological conditions in China will enable us to maintain our dominant position in discovering and developing crude oil and natural gas reserves in China.

Refining and Chemicals Operations and Marketing Operations

We compete with our primary competitor Sinopec in our refining and chemicals operations and marketing operations on the basis of price, quality and customer service. Most of our refineries and chemical plants are located in the Northeastern and Northwestern regions of China where we have the dominant market share for refined products and chemical products. We sell the remainder of our refined products and chemical products to the Eastern, Southern, Southwestern and Central-southern regions of China, where our products have a considerable market share. The Eastern and Southern regions of China, where refined products and chemical products are in higher demand, are important markets for our refined products and chemical products. Sinopec has a strong presence in the Eastern and Southern regions of China in competition with us, and most of Sinopec’s refineries, chemical plants and distribution networks are located in these regions in close proximity to these markets. Moreover, as the newly constructed facilities of CNOOC commenced operation in the same region, large quantity of chemical products have been marketed into that area, which made the competition even intense. We expect that we will continue to face competition in our refined products and chemical products sales in these regions.

 

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In recent years, China has gradually liberalized the restrictions on market access for the refining and chemical industry. The refining and chemical industry led by us and Sinopec has been rapidly transformed into diversified market participants. Some large state-owned enterprises and private enterprises have entered the refining and chemical industry. Local refineries have rapidly emerged, and international refining and chemical companies have recently opened large refineries in China. The restrictions on foreign investment in wholesale and retail chains of refined oil have been further liberalized. In 2019, the Chinese government issued policies to further liberalize market access for private enterprises, encouraging private enterprises to enter the industries of refineries and sales, and to construct storage and transportation infrastructure for refined oil, and encourage qualified enterprises to participate in crude oil imports and refined oil exports. We expect to continue to face strong market competition.

We also face competition from imported refined products and chemical products in terms of price and quality. In recent years, competition from foreign producers of refined products and chemical products has increased as a result of changes in China’s tariff policies toward imported refined products and chemical products. In response, we have sought to reduce our production costs, improve the quality of our products and optimize our product mix.

In addition, we also face competition from alternative energies. China has become the world’s largest user of new and renewable energy sources. The sharing economy and alternative energy sources are developing rapidly. As the preferential policies towards natural gas, electric power, hydrogen, and other sources of energy for vehicles have been implemented, alternative eneregies have been evolving iterately resulting in a continous slow down in the growth rate of refined oil consumption.

Natural Gas and Pipeline Operations

We are the largest natural gas supplier in the PRC in terms of sales volume. Currently, we mainly face competition from Sinopec, CNOOC, coal-based natural gas producers and importers of natural gas and LNG in the supply of natural gas to Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province, Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, Anhui Province, Henan Province, Hubei Province, Hunan Province and the Northwestern regions of China, our existing principal markets for natural gas. Currently, Sinopec has natural gas fields in Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality and sells natural gas to users in places such as Sichuan Province, Chongqing, Hunan Province, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province and Shanghai. We have also expanded into the coastal regions in Eastern and Southern China where we may face competition from CNOOC and Sinopec. The PRC government has published reform policy with an aim to integrate existing pipeline resources for independent operation and intensify market competition. (See “Item 3 — Risk Factors — Risks related to Government Regulation”, “Item 4 — Information on the Company — Natural Gas and Pipeline”) and “Item 5 — Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Trend Information”). We believe that our advantages in natural gas resources, production, sales and technologies will enable us to continue to be a dominant player in the natural gas markets in China.

See “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Competition”.

Environmental Matters

Like other companies in the industries in which we operate, we are subject to numerous national, regional and local environmental laws and regulations promulgated by the governments in those jurisdictions. These laws and regulations concern our oil and gas exploration and production operations, petroleum and petrochemical products and other activities. In particular, some of these laws and regulations:

 

   

require an environmental evaluation report to be submitted and approved prior to the commencement of exploration, production, refining and chemical projects;

 

   

restrict the type, quantities, and concentration of various substances that can be released into the environment in connection with drilling and production activities;

 

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limit or prohibit drilling activities within protected areas and certain other areas; and

 

   

impose penalties for pollution resulting from oil, natural gas and petrochemical operations, including criminal and civil liabilities for serious pollution.

These laws and regulations may also restrict air emissions and discharges to surface and subsurface water resulting from the operation of natural gas processing plants, chemical plants, refineries, pipeline systems and other facilities that we own. In addition, our operations are subject to laws and regulations relating to the generation, handling, storage, transportation, disposal and treatment of solid waste materials.

We anticipate that the environmental laws and regulations to which we are subject will become increasingly strict and are therefore likely to have an increasing impact on our operations. It is difficult, however, to predict accurately the effect of future developments in such laws and regulations on our future earnings and operations. Some risk of environmental costs and liabilities is inherent in our operations and products, as it is with other companies engaged in similar businesses. We cannot assure you that material costs and liabilities will not be incurred. However, we do not currently expect any material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations as a result of compliance with such laws and regulations. We paid pollutant discharge fees of approximately RMB333 million in 2017. In 2018, the PRC government began to charge environmental protection tax instead of pollutant discharge fees. As we have adopted advanced pollution control technologies, some of our enterprises have obtained reductions of environmental protection tax. In 2018 and 2019, we paid a total environmental protection tax of approximately RMB140 and RMB139 million, respectively.

To meet future environmental obligations, we are engaged in a continuous program to develop effective environmental protection measures. This program includes:

 

   

building environment-friendly projects;

 

   

reducing sulfur content in gasoline and diesel fuel;

 

   

reducing olefins and benzene content in gasoline, and continuously reducing emissions and effluents from our refineries and petrochemical plants; and

 

   

developing and installing monitoring systems at our pollutant discharge openings.

Our capital expenditures on environmental programs in 2017, 2018 and 2019 were approximately RMB4.17 billion, RMB2.70 billion and RMB2.30 billion, respectively.

Because a number of our production facilities are located in populated areas, we have established a series of preventative measures to improve the safety of our employees and surrounding residents and minimize disruptions or other adverse effects on our business. These measures include:

 

   

providing each household in areas surrounding our production facilities with printed materials to explain and illustrate safety and protection knowledge and skills; and

 

   

enhancing the implementation of various effective safety production measures we have adopted previously.

We believe that these preventative measures have helped reduce the possibility of incidents that may result in serious casualties and environmental consequences. In addition, the adoption of these preventative measures has not required significant capital expenditures to date, and therefore, will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

See “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Environmental Protection and Safety” and “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Climate Change”.

 

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Properties, Plants and Equipment

We own substantially all of our properties, plants and equipment relating to our business activities. We hold exploration and production licenses covering all of our interests in developed and undeveloped acreage, oil and natural gas wells and relevant facilities.

See the description of our properties, plants and equipment relating to our business activities included elsewhere in this “Item 4 — Information on the Company” and “Item 7 — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions”.

Intellectual Property

Our company logo “ LOGO ” is jointly owned by us and CNPC and has been used since December 26, 2004. Together with CNPC, we have applied for trademark registrations of the logo with the State Trademark Bureau of the PRC. To date, most of our applications for registration of LOGO and our other trademarks have been approved and certain others are either in the process of review or public announcement phase. In addition, together with CNPC, we have applied for international trademark registration for our logo in other jurisdictions. We have received 506 International Trademark Registration Certificates for our logo covering more than 50 jurisdictions.

As of December 31, 2019, we owned approximately 18,363 patents in China and other jurisdictions. We were granted 2,742 patents in 2019.

 

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Regulatory Matters

Overview

China’s oil and gas industry is subject to extensive regulation by the PRC government with respect to exploration, production, transmission and marketing of crude oil and natural gas as well as production, transportation and marketing of refined products and chemical products. The following central government authorities exercise control over China’s oil and gas industry:

 

   

The Ministry of Natural Resources, or the MNR, has the authority to grant, examine and approve mineral resources exploration and production licenses, and to oversee the registration and transfer of exploration and production licenses;

 

   

The Ministry of Commerce, or the MOFCOM,

 

   

sets and grants import and export volume quotas for crude oil and refined products in accordance with the market supply and demand in China as well as WTO requirements for China; and

 

   

issues import and export licenses for crude oil and refined products to oil and gas companies that have obtained import and export quotas.

 

   

The National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC:

 

   

is responsible for industry administration, industry policy and policy coordination over China’s oil and gas industry;

 

   

publishes guidance prices for natural gas and maximum retail prices for certain refined products, including gasoline and diesel;

 

   

formulates the plan for aggregate import and export volume of crude oil and refined products in accordance with the market supply and demand in China;

 

   

approves significant petroleum, natural gas, oil refinery and chemical projects set forth under the Catalogs of Investment Projects Approved by the Central Government; and

 

   

approves Sino-foreign equity and cooperative projects of certain types.

Exploration Licenses and Production Licenses

The Mineral Resources Law authorizes the MNR to exercise administrative authority over the exploration and production of mineral resources within the PRC. The Mineral Resources Law and its supplementary regulations provide the basic legal framework under which exploration licenses and production licenses are granted. The MNR has the authority to issue mineral resources exploration licenses and production licenses. Applicants must be companies approved by the State Council to engage in oil and gas exploration and production activities.

Applicants for exploration licenses must first register with the MNR blocks in which they intend to engage in exploration activities. The holder of an exploration license is obligated to make a progressively increasing annual minimum exploration investment in each corresponding block. Investments range from RMB2,000 per square kilometer for the initial year to RMB5,000 per square kilometer for the second year, and to RMB10,000 per square kilometer for the third and subsequent years. Additionally, the holder has to pay an annual mining right occupancy fee that starts at RMB100 per square kilometer for each of the first three years and increases by an additional RMB100 per square kilometer per year for subsequent years up to a maximum of RMB500 per square kilometer. The maximum term of an oil and natural gas exploration license is seven years, subject to renewal upon expiration of the original term, with each renewal being up to two years. At the exploration stage, an applicant can also apply for a progressive exploration and production license that allows the holder to test and develop reserves not yet fully proven. Upon the detection and confirmation of the quantity of reserves in a certain

 

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block, the holder must apply for a production license based on economic evaluation, market conditions and development planning in order to shift into the production phase in a timely fashion. In addition, the holder needs to obtain the right to use that block of land. Generally, the holder of a full production license must obtain a land use rights certificate for industrial land use covering that block of land.

The MNR issues production licenses to applicants on the basis of the reserves reports approved by the relevant authorities. Production license holders are required to pay an annual production right usage fee of RMB1,000 per square kilometer. Administrative rules issued by the State Council provide that the maximum term of a production license is 30 years, 20 years, or 10 years as applicable to large, medium and small mineral blocks, respectively. In accordance with a special approval from the State Council, the MNR has issued production licenses with terms coextensive with the projected productive life of the assessed proven reserves as discussed above. Each of our production licenses is renewable upon our application 30 days prior to expiration. If oil and gas prices increase, the productive life of our crude oil and natural gas reservoirs may be extended beyond the current terms of the relevant production licenses.

Among the major PRC oil and gas companies, the exploration licenses and production licenses held by us, Sinopec and CNOOC account for the majority of mining rights in China. Among those companies, we and Sinopec primarily engage in onshore exploration and production, while CNOOC primarily engages in offshore exploration and production. According to the new policies of the Chinese government, private enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises are expected to obtain exploration licenses in the future.

Pricing

Crude Oil

According to the Measures for Administration of Petroleum Products Price issued by NDRC on January 13, 2016, crude oil prices shall be determined by the market. We and Sinopec set the crude oil median prices each month based on the average international market FOB prices for crude oil of different grades in the previous month. In addition, we and Sinopec negotiate a premium or discount to reflect transportation costs, the differences in oil quality and the supply and demand.

Refined Products

The prices of our gasoline and diesel products are subject to government regulation.

On December 18, 2008, the NDRC issued the Notice on Implementing Price and Tax Reform of Refined Oil, which improved the pricing mechanism for refined oil products. Under the improved mechanism, the domestic ex-factory prices of refined oil products are determined on the basis of the relevant international crude oil prices, by taking into consideration the average domestic processing cost, tax and a pre-determined profit margin. The prices of diesel and gasoline continue to follow the government guiding prices. The highest retail price set for gasoline and diesel is calculated by using the relevant ex-factory price and a determined profit margin for retailing activities.

On March 26, 2013, the NDRC issued the Notice on Further Improvement of Refined Oil Pricing Mechanism and the amended and restated Measures for Oil Prices Management (on trial). Under this new system, (i) the price adjustment period was shortened from 22 working days to 10 and the 4% limit on the price adjustment range was eliminated; (ii) the composition of the basket of crudes to which refined oil products prices are linked was adjusted in light of the composition of the imported crudes and changes in crudes trading on the international market; and (iii) the refined oil products pricing mechanism was further enhanced.

In order to promote the oil product quality upgrading, on September 16, 2013, the NDRC issued the Circular regarding Relevant Opinions on the Pricing Policy for Oil Product Quality Upgrading, pursuant to

 

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which the price increase standard for the auto-use gasoline and diesel upgraded to China IV Standard shall be set as RMB290 per ton and RMB370 per ton, respectively, and the price increase standard for the auto-use gasoline and diesel upgraded from China IV to China V Standard shall be set at RMB170 per ton and RMB160 per ton, respectively.

On January 12, 2015, the NDRC issued the Notice on Reducing Domestic Refined Oil Prices, pursuant to which, since January 13, 2015, the price for No. 98 gasoline is to be determined by the production and operation enterprises themselves.

On January 13, 2016, the NDRC issued the Notice on Issues Concerning Further Improving the Pricing Mechanism for Refined Oil and its exhibit Regulation on Oil Pricing, pursuant to which, starting from January 13, 2016, downward adjustment of the refined oil price is subject to a floor of US$40 per barrel. Accordingly, when the international crude oil price drops to US$40 per barrel or below, the refined oil price in China shall not be adjusted downwards and the unadjusted amount shall be allocated to the reserve fund to be used for energy saving, reduction of emission, improving the oil quality and securing a safe supply of refined oil. When the international crude oil price surges to US$130 per barrel or above, appropriate financial and taxation policies shall be adopted to ensure the production and supply of refined oil but the refined oil price shall in principle remain unadjusted or shall only be slightly adjusted upwards. This regulation also liberalized the ex-factory price of liquefied petroleum gas.

On December 15, 2016, the Ministry of Finance (“MOF”) and NDRC issued Circulation on Collection of Risk Reserves for Oil Price Control (the “Rules”), pursuant to which, effective January 13, 2016, when the price of crude oil in international market drops below the lower limit set by the Chinese government, domestic enterprises which are engaged in production, commissioned processing and import and export of such refined oil products as gasoline and diesel shall make full payment of risk reserves according to sales volumes and the corresponding collection rates. “Sales volumes” refer to the actual sales volumes of such enterprises between the two adjacent window periods of price adjustment. Collection rates for risk reserves are determined with reference to the unadjusted prices of refined oil products. The NDRC and the MOF jointly determine the collection rates on a quarterly basis and notify the collection agencies in writing.

On December 22, 2016, MOF issued Notice on Proper Collection of Risk Reserves for Oil Price Adjustment in 2016, pursuant to which, if the subsidiaries (limited to listed companies) of CNPC, Sinopec and CNOOC have already recognized the risk reserves accrued as operation revenue, such subsidiaries may opt to have such risk reserves to be paid by their parent companies out of the net profit.

Aviation Kerosene

The ex-factory price of aviation kerosene is determined by the supply and demand parties subject to a limit of the CIF price in the Singapore market.

Chemical Products

We determine the prices of all of our chemical products based on market conditions.

Natural Gas

On June 28, 2013, the NDRC announced the initiation of a program for the adjustment of natural gas prices from July 10, 2013. The program consists of (i) changing the pricing mechanism of natural gas from ex-factory price to citygate price, and no longer differentiating the prices payable by users in different provinces; (ii) establishing the mechanism linking the citygate price of natural gas to the price of alternative energy with a view to gradually shift to a market-driven pricing mechanism for natural gas; (iii) adopting differential pricing approaches towards the existing usage and the incremental usage so as to establish as soon as practicable a new pricing mechanism for natural gas while reducing the impact that the pricing reform will have on existing gas users.

 

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On August 10, 2014, based on the natural gas price reform roadmap, the NDRC issued price adjustment programs for non-residential use stock natural gas, pursuant to which, effective September 1, 2014, (i) the natural gas citygate price for non-residential use was increased by RMB400 per thousand cubic meters; (ii) no adjustment will be made to the citygate price for natural gas consumed by residential users; and (iii) further action will be taken to implement the policy in connection with the liberalization of the sales price of imported liquefied natural gas and the ex-factory prices for shale gas, coal-seam gas and coal gas.

On February 26, 2015, the NDRC announced the unification of the prices of domestic natural gas of existing and incremental gas volume starting from April 1, 2015.

On November 18, 2015, the NDRC announced the reduction of the price of natural gas for non-residential use from November 20, 2015, whereby the citygate price ceiling for non-resident users was decreased by RMB700 per thousand cubic meters while the preferential policy and price for natural gas used by fertilizer makers remain unchanged. With a view to improve the market-driven pricing mechanism for natural gas, since November 20, 2016, suppliers and non-residential users can negotiate prices of natural gas up to 20% above the benchmark price for non-residential use.

On October 15, 2016, the NDRC issued Clarifying the Price Policy for Gas Storage Facilities, which announced that the prices for natural gas purchase and sale to be conducted by and the prices of gas storage services to be provided by the gas storage facilities shall be formed through the operation of market.

On November 5, 2016, NDRC issued Notice on Enhancing Price Liberalization for Gas Used as Fertilizer Feedstock, pursuant to which, effective November 10, 2016, prices for gas used as fertilizer feedstock were fully liberalized and subject to negotiations between the vendors and the purchasers. It encourages the trading of the natural gas used by fertilizer makers in the oil and gas exchange centers in order to achieve open and transparent pricing of gas as fertilizer feedstock.

On November 11, 2016, the NDRC issued Notice on Relevant Issues concerning the Price Policy for Natural Gas Citygate Price in Fujian Province, which expressly liberated the citygate natural gas price in Fujian Province and made Fujian the first province that would implement fully liberated citygate natural gas price.

On August 29, 2017, the NDRC issued Notice on Reduction of the Benchmark Citygate Price of Non-residential Natural Gas, which reduced the benchmark city gate price of non-residential natural gas by RMB100 per thousand cubic meters effective September 1, 2017.

On May 25, 2018, NDRC issued Notice on Straightening Out the Citygate Price of Natural Gas for Residential Use (the “Notice”), pursuant to which, effective June 10, 2018, prices of natural gas for residential use will no longer be subject to the highest citygate price limit. Instead, the suppliers and users may negotiate prices up to 120% of the reference base rate, which is the same as the base rate for non-residential use. The citygate price of natural gas for residential use may not be increased until the first anniversary of the Notice. According to the Notice, where there is a significant difference between the price of natural gas for residential use and non-residential use, any increase in the citygate price for residential use may not exceed RMB350 per thousand cubic meters in the first year, with any remaining price difference to be rolled over into subsequent years. The policy also rolled out seasonal natural gas prices with a view to encourage market-oriented pricing.

On March 27, 2019, NDRC issued the Notice of the NDRC on Adjusting The Citygate Benchmark Price of Natural Gas, pursuant to which, benchmark citygate price of natural gas in each province, autonomous region and municipality was adjusted from April 1, 2019 in light of the adjustment of natural gas value-added tax rate.

Pipeline Transmission Tariff

Pipeline transmission tariffs for crude oil, refined oil and natural gas are set by the government. Cross province transmission tariffs are set by the NDRC and provincial transmission tariffs are set by the provincial level branches of the NDRC.

 

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For those pipelines constructed prior to 1984, which were funded by the government, the transmission tariff is a uniform flat tariff determined based on the principle of minimum profit margin. For those pipelines constructed with the funds of the enterprises after 1984, the tariffs must be submitted to the NDRC for examination and approval on a case by case basis and based on the capital investment made in the pipeline, the operation period for the pipeline and a reasonable profit margin.

On October 9, 2016, the NDRC issued Regulation on Administration of the Pipeline Transmission Tariff for Natural Gas (on trial) and Rules on Supervision and Review of the Costs Used in Setting the Pipeline Transmission Tariff (on trial), which provides that effective January 1, 2017, the pipeline transmission tariff for natural gas shall be reviewed and determined on the principle of “permissible costs plus reasonable margins”, and the rules intended to regulate the tariff charged by companies engaged in cross-province pipeline transmission operation.

On August 29, 2017, the NDRC issued the Notice on Approving the Inter-provincial Natural Gas Pipeline Transmission Tariff”, which published the transmission tariff for 13 inter-provincial pipelines companies including PetroChina Beijing Natural Gas Pipeline Co., Ltd. and others.

On March 27, 2019, the NDRC issued the Notice on Adjusting the Inter-provincial Pipeline Natural Gas Transmission Tariff, which adjusted the transmission tariff for 13 inter-provincial pipelines companies including PetroChina Beijing Natural Gas Pipeline Co., Ltd. and others.

Production and Marketing

Crude Oil

Each year, the NDRC publishes the projected target for the production and process of crude oil in China based on the domestic consumption estimates submitted by domestic producers, including but not limited to us, Sinopec and CNOOC, the production of these companies as well as the forecast of international crude oil prices. The actual production volumes are determined by the producers themselves and may vary from estimates. The Ministry of Commerce and its local branches are responsible for supervising and managing the crude oil market. Enterprises that meet certain operating conditions may apply for the permit for crude oil sales and warehousing business.

Refined Products

Previously, only we, Sinopec and joint ventures of the two companies had the right to conduct gasoline and diesel wholesale business. Other companies, including foreign invested companies, were not allowed to engage in wholesale of gasoline and diesel in China’s domestic market. In general, only domestic companies, including Sino-foreign joint venture companies, were permitted to engage in retail of gasoline and diesel. Since December 11, 2004, wholly foreign-owned enterprises are permitted to conduct refined oil retail business. Since January 1, 2007, when the Measures on the Administration of the Refined Products Market became effective, all entities meeting certain requirements are allowed to submit applications to the MOFCOM to conduct refined oil products wholesale, retail and storage businesses. On July 28, 2018, the PRC government removed the restriction that a Chinese partner must hold a majority share in the construction and operation of a retail oil station chain which has more than 30 outlets and sells refined products of different types and brands supplied through multiple channels. On August 27, 2019, the State Council canceled government approval of qualifications for operation of refined oil wholesale warehousing and delegated the approval of refined oil retail qualifications to local municipal governments.

Natural Gas

The NDRC determines each year the annual national natural gas production target based on the natural gas production targets submitted by domestic natural gas producers. Domestic natural gas producers determine their

 

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annual natural gas production targets on the basis of consumption estimates. The actual production volume of each producer is determined by the producer itself, which may deviate from the production target submitted by it. The NDRC also formulates the annual natural gas supply guideline, which requires natural gas producers to distribute a specified amount of natural gas to the designated key municipalities and key enterprises.

Foreign Investments

Cooperation in Exploration and Production with Foreign Companies

Currently, CNPC is one of the few Chinese companies that have the right to cooperate with foreign companies in onshore crude oil and natural gas exploration and production in China. CNOOC has the right to cooperate with foreign companies in offshore crude oil and natural gas exploration and production in China.

Sino-foreign cooperation projects and foreign parties in onshore oil and gas exploration and production in China are generally selected through open bids and bilateral negotiations. Those projects are generally conducted through production sharing contracts. The MOFCOM must approve those contracts.

As authorized by the Regulations of the PRC on Exploration of Onshore Petroleum Resources in Cooperation with Foreign Enterprises, CNPC has the right to enter into joint cooperation arrangements with foreign oil and gas companies for onshore crude oil and natural gas exploration and production. We do not have the capacity to enter into production sharing contracts directly with foreign oil and gas companies under existing PRC law. Accordingly, CNPC will enter into production sharing contracts. After signing a production sharing contract, CNPC will, subject to approval of the MOFCOM, assign to us most of its commercial and operational rights and obligations under the production sharing contract as required by the Non-competition Agreement between CNPC and us.

In 2019, the Chinese government lifted the restrictions on foreign investment in oil and gas exploration. As a result, foreign companies are allowed to enter the oil and gas exploration and production sector by wholly-owned enterprieses.

Transportation and Refining

Since December 1, 2007, PRC regulations have encouraged foreign investment in the construction and operation of oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities. On March 10, 2015, PRC lifted the restrictions on foreign investment in refineries with a production capacity of below 10 million tons per annum. Furthermore, when appropriate, projects must receive necessary approvals from relevant PRC government agencies. See “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Government Regulation.”

The State Further Liberalized Oil And Gas Market Access

On June 30, 2019, the NDRC and the MOFCOM jointly issued Special Management Measures for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List) (2019 Edition), pursuant to which, the restrictions on oil and gas exploration and development that were previously limited to joint ventures and cooperation were lifted.

On December 22, 2019, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the Opinions on Creating a Better Development Environment to Support the Reform and Development of Private Enterprises, which further liberalized market access for private enterprises. It states that in key industries and fields such as power, telecommunications, railways, oil and gas, the state liberalizes competitive businesses and further introduces market competition mechanisms. It encourages private enterprises to enter the industries of oil and gas exploration and development, refining and sales, and construction of infrastructures such as storage, transportation and pipeline transportation of crude oil, natural gas and refined oil. It encourages qualified enterprises to participate in crude oil imports and refined oil exports.

 

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Import and Export

Since January 1, 2002, state-owned trading companies have been allowed to import crude oil under an automatic licensing system. Non-state-owned trading companies have been allowed to import crude oil and refined products subject to quotas. The export of crude oil and refined oil products by both state-owned trading companies and non-state-owned trading companies is subject to quota control. The MOFCOM has granted us the right to conduct crude oil and refined product import and export business.

Capital Investment and Financing

Capital investments in exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas made by Chinese oil and gas companies are subject to approval by or filing with relevant government authorities. The following projects are subject to approval by the NDRC or the competent local authorities:

 

   

facilities for taking delivery of and storing liquefied petroleum gas (excluding accessory projects of oil or gas fields or refineries);

 

   

new facilities for taking delivery of or storing imported liquefied natural gas (including expansion on a different site other than the original facilities);

 

   

oil or gas transmission pipeline networks (excluding gathering and transmission pipeline networks of oil or gas fields);

 

   

new refineries, expansion of existing primary processing refineries;

 

   

new ethylene, paraxylene (PX), diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) projects; and

 

   

new coal-to-olefins projects, new coal to paraxylene (PX) projects, and new coal-to-methanol projects with a capacity of 1 million tons per annum or more.

Taxes, Fees and Royalties

We are subject to a variety of taxes, fees and royalties. The table below sets forth the major taxes, fees and royalty fees payable by us or by Sino-foreign oil and gas exploration and development cooperative projects. Our subsidiaries which have legal person status should report and pay enterprise income tax to the relevant tax authorities based on the applicable laws and regulations.

 

Tax Item

  

Tax
Base

  

Tax
Rate

Enterprise income tax

   Taxable income    25%, or 15% for qualified taxpayers in certain western regions of China.

Value-added tax

   Revenue   

Prior to July 1, 2017, value added tax rates were 17%, 13%, 11% and 6%, as applicable. In particular, 13% was for liquefied natural gas, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, agricultural film and fertilizers and 17% for oil products and other products.

 

Effective July 1, 2017, the rate of 13% was canceled and the applicable rate for natural gas has been changed from 13% to 11%.

 

Effective May 1, 2018, the rate of 17% was changed to 16% and the rate of 11% was changed to 10%.

 

Effective April 1, 2019, the rate of 16% was changed to 13% and the rate of 10% was changed to 9%.

 

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Consumption tax

   Aggregate volume sold or self-consumed   

RMB1.52 per liter for gasoline, naphtha, solvent naphtha and lubricant and RMB1.2 per liter for diesel, aviation kerosene and fuel oil.

 

Collection of taxes on aviation kerosene continues to be suspended.

Resource tax

   Sales   

6%, exemption or reduction may apply if qualified.

 

From April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2021, shale gas production enjoys a 30% reduction.

Crude oil special gain levy

   Sales amount above specific threshold    Five-level progressive tax rates from 20% to 40%, taxable if the crude oil price reaches the threshold of US$65 per barrel.

Environmental protection tax

   Air pollution equivalent, water pollution equivalent, solid waste pollution equivalent and noise exceeding the standard decibel   

Effective January 1, 2018, the PRC government started to impose environmental protection tax. Different emissions apply their corresponding tax rates.

 

If a taxpayer’s emission of taxable atmospheric pollutants or water pollutants is less than 30% of the national and local pollutant discharge standards, the environmental protection tax shall be levied at 75%. If the taxpayer’s emission of taxable atmospheric pollutants or water pollutants is less than 50% of the national and local pollutant discharge standards, the environmental protection tax shall be levied at 50%.

Mining right occupancy fees

   Area    RMB100 to RMB500 per square kilometer per year for exploration; RMB1,000 per square kilometer per year for production.

Royalty fee(1)

   Production volume    Progressive rate of 0-12.5% for crude oil and 0-3% for natural gas.

 

(1)

It shall be paid in cash and is only applicable to Sino-foreign oil and gas exploration and development cooperative projects in China. However, effective December 1, 2010, the royalty fee payable by new Sino-foreign oil and gas exploration and development cooperative projects in Western regions was replaced by the resource tax, while those cooperative projects under contracts signed before December 1, 2010 continue to be subject to the royalty fee until the contracts expire. Effective November 1, 2011, the royalty fee payable by new Sino-foreign oil and gas exploration and development cooperative projects in the whole country was replaced by the resource tax, while those cooperative projects under contracts signed before November 1, 2011 continue to be subject to the royalty fee until the contracts expire.

Environmental Regulations

We are subject to various PRC national environmental laws and regulations and also environmental regulations promulgated by the local governments in whose jurisdictions we have operations. The PRC government has adopted extensive environmental laws and regulations that affect the operation of the oil and gas industry. There are national and local standards applicable to emissions control, discharges to surface and subsurface water and disposal, generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of solid waste materials, reduction of carbon emission and upgrade of the standards for refined products.

The environmental regulations require a company, such as us, to register or file an environmental impact report with the relevant environmental authority for approval before it undertakes any construction of a new production facility or any major expansion or renovation of an existing production facility. The new facility or

 

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the expanded or renovated facility will not be permitted to operate unless the relevant environmental authority has inspected the environmental equipment installed at the facility and decides it satisfies the environmental protection requirements. Companies that need to discharge pollutants, whether in the form of gas, water or solid wastes, must submit application for pollutant discharge permits. The application must state in detail the types of discharge, discharge outlet, types of pollutants, concentration and amount of discharge. After reviewing the application materials, the relevant environmental administrative department will determine to issue a discharge permit to the company, specifying the types of permitted pollutants, the permitted concentration and amount. If a company’s discharges deviated from what were permitted, the relevant administrative department may impose fines on the company or order the company to suspend or close down its operation for resolving the issues. In addition, companies discharging taxable pollutants should declare and pay corresponding environmental protection taxes in accordance with the PRC Environmental Protection Tax Law and its implementing regulations.

In recent years, the Chinese government has endeavored to promote low-carbon and emission reduction policies and has set a goal of increasing the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption. In order to reduce environmental pollution, the Chinese government has also raised the standards of oil products several times in recent years. After several years of upgrading and renovating our oil refining facilities, we have satisfied the relevant standards on time. In addition, we are also required to comply with relevant laws and regulations regarding management of hazardous chemicals.

Item 4A — UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

We do not have any unresolved staff comment.

Item 5 — OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

General

You should read the following discussion together with our consolidated financial statements and their notes included elsewhere in this annual report. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS. The comparative data for 2017 and 2018 throughout this Item 5 was restated to reflect our acquisition of the interest in Dalian West Pacific as if it was consolidated since the earliest year presented. Please refer to “Item 4 — Information on the Company — Acquisitions and Divestment” and Note 40 to our consolidated financial statements. In addition, we have initially applied IFRS 16 on January 1, 2019 and IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 on January 1, 2018. According to the adopted transition plan, the comparative data for 2017 and 2018 throughout this Item 5 has not been restated. For a detailed description of the changes and impacts of these accounting standards, please refer to “Note 3 (aa) New Accounting Standards” in our financial statements.

Overview

We are engaged in a broad range of petroleum and natural gas related activities, including:

 

   

exploration, development, production and sale of crude oil and natural gas;

 

   

refining of crude oil and petroleum products, and production and marketing of basic petrochemical products, derivative chemical products and other chemical products;

 

   

marketing and trading of refined oil products; and

 

   

transmission of natural gas, crude oil and refined oil products as well as sale of natural gas.

We are China’s largest producer of crude oil and natural gas and are one of the largest companies in China in terms of revenue. In 2019, we produced approximately 909.3 million barrels of crude oil and approximately

 

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3,908.0 Bcf of natural gas for sale. Our refineries processed approximately 1,228.4 million barrels of crude oil in 2019. In 2019, our revenue was RMB2,516,810 million and net profit attributable to owners of the Company was RMB45,682 million.

Factors Affecting Results of Operations

Our results of operations and the period-to-period comparability of our financial results are affected by a number of external factors, including changes in the prices, production and sales volume of our principal products, operating costs and the regulatory environment.

Prices of Principal Products

The fluctuations in the prices of crude oil, refined products, chemical products and natural gas have a significant impact on our revenue. See “Item 4 — Information on the Company — Regulatory Matters — Pricing” for a more detailed discussion of current PRC pricing regulations and “Item 3 — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Pricing and Exchange Rate”.

The table below sets forth the average realized prices of our principal products in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

 

     2017      2018      2019  

Crude oil (US$/barrel)

     50.64        68.28        60.96  

Natural gas (US$/thousand cubic feet)

     5.18        5.85        5.39  

Gasoline (US$/barrel)

     111.26        124.88        110.63  

Kerosene (US$/barrel)

     66.57        86.73        78.08  

Diesel (US$/barrel)

     90.84        110.38        102.16  

Production and Sales Volume for Oil and Gas Products

Our results of operations are also affected by production and sales volumes. Our crude oil and natural gas production volumes depend primarily on the level of the proved developed reserves in the fields in which we have an interest, as well as other factors such as the general macroeconomic environment and market supply and demand conditions, while the sales of crude oil, natural gas, refined oil and chemical products are subject to marketing capabilities and competitive environment.

Operating costs

The general macroeconomic environment and market supply and demand conditions may also affect our operating costs. For example, labor costs and the price index (CPI) in general in the countries where we operate are affected by the global and local macroeconomic environment. Changes in commodity prices may also affect our operating costs, as it would affect our ability to pass on the change in such commodity prices through a change in the prices of our products.

Regulatory Environment

Our operating activities are subject to extensive regulations and control by the PRC government, including the issuance of exploration and production licenses, the imposition of industry-specific taxes or product-specific taxes and levies and the implementation of environmental policies and safety standards. Our results of operations will be affected by any future changes of such regulatory environment.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires our management to select and apply significant accounting policies, the application of which may require management to make judgments and

 

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estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of our financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Notwithstanding the presentation of our principal accounting policies in Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report, we have identified the accounting policies below as most critical to our business operations and the understanding of our financial condition and results of operations presented in accordance with IFRS. Although these estimates are based on our management’s best knowledge of current events and actions, actual results ultimately may differ from those estimates.

Accounting for Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities

We use the successful efforts method of accounting, with specialized accounting rules that are unique to the oil and gas industry, for oil and gas exploration and production activities. Under this method, geological and geophysical costs incurred are expensed when incurred. However, all costs for developmental wells, support equipment and facilities, and proved mineral interests in oil and gas properties are capitalized. Costs of exploratory wells are capitalized as construction in progress pending determination of whether the wells find proved reserves. For exploratory wells located in regions that do not require substantial capital expenditures before the commencement of production, the evaluation of the economic benefits of the reserves in such wells will be completed within one year following the completion of the exploration drilling. Where such evaluation indicates that no economic benefits can be obtained, the relevant costs of exploratory wells will be converted to dry well exploration expenses. The relevant costs will be classified as oil and gas assets and go through impairment review if the evaluation indicates that economic benefits can be obtained. For wells with economically viable reserves in areas where a major capital expenditure would be required before production can begin, the related well costs remain capitalized only if additional drilling is under way or firmly planned. Otherwise the well costs are expensed as dry wells. We have no material costs of unproved properties capitalized in oil and gas properties.

Oil and Gas Reserves

The estimation of the quantities of recoverable oil and gas reserves in oil and gas fields is integral to effective management of our exploration and production operations. Because of the subjective judgments involved in developing and assessing such information, engineering estimates of the quantities of recoverable oil and gas reserves in oil and gas fields are inherently imprecise and represent only approximate amounts.

Before estimated oil and gas reserves are designated as “proved”, certain engineering criteria must be met in accordance with industry standards and the regulations of the SEC. Proved oil and gas reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil and natural gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulation before the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether the estimate is a deterministic estimate or probabilistic estimate. Therefore, these estimates do not include probable or possible reserves. Our proved reserves estimates are assessed or audited annually by independent, qualified and experienced oil and gas reserves engineering firms in the United States and Canada. Our oil and gas reserves engineering department has policies and procedures in place to ensure that these estimates are consistent with these authoritative guidelines. Among other factors required by authoritative guidelines, this estimation takes into account recent information about each field, including production and seismic information, estimated recoverable reserves of each well, and oil and gas prices and operating costs as of the date the estimate is made. The price shall be the average price during the 12-month period before the ending date of the period covered by this report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions. The costs shall be that prevailing at the end of the period.

 

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Despite the inherent imprecision in these engineering estimates, estimated proved oil and gas reserves quantity has a direct impact on certain amounts reported in the financial statements. In addition to the capitalization of costs related to oil and gas properties on the balance sheet discussed earlier, estimated proved reserves also impact the calculation of depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses of oil and gas properties. The cost of oil and gas properties is amortized at the field level on the unit of production method. Unit of production rates are based on the total oil and gas reserves estimated to be recoverable from existing facilities based on the current terms of our production licenses. Our reserves estimates include only crude oil and natural gas which the management believes can be reasonably produced within the current terms of the production licenses that are granted by the Ministry of Natural Resources, ranging from 30 years to 55 years from the effective date of issuance in March 2000, renewable upon application 30 days prior to expiration. Consequently, the impact of changes in estimated proved reserves is reflected prospectively by amortizing the remaining book value of the oil and gas property assets over the expected future production. If proved reserves estimates are revised downward, earnings could be affected by higher depreciation expense or an immediate write-down of the property’s book value had the downward revisions been significant See “— Property, Plant and Equipment” below. Given our large number of producing properties in our portfolio, and the estimated proved reserves, it is unlikely that any changes in reserves estimates will have a significant effect on prospective charges for depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses.

In addition, due to the importance of these estimates in understanding the perceived value and future cash flows of a company’s oil and gas operations, we have also provided supplemental disclosures of “proved” oil and gas reserves estimates prepared in accordance with authoritative guidelines elsewhere in this annual report.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Where it is probable that property, plant and equipment, including oil and gas properties, will generate future economic benefits, their costs are initially recorded in the consolidated statement of financial position as assets. Cost represents the purchase price of the asset and other costs incurred to bring the asset into expected use. Subsequent to their initial recognition, property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization (including any impairment).

Depreciation, to write off the cost of each asset, other than oil and gas properties, to their residual values over their estimated useful lives is calculated using the straight-line method.

The Company uses the following useful lives for depreciation purposes:

 

Buildings and plant

     8-40 years  

Equipment and machinery

     4-30 years  

Motor vehicles

     4-14 years  

Other

     5-12 years  

No depreciation is provided on construction in progress until the assets are completed and ready for use.

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.

Property, plant and equipment, including oil and gas properties, are reviewed for possible impairments when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Determination as to whether and how much an asset is impaired involves management estimates and judgments such as future crude oil prices, prices of refined products and chemical products, the operation costs, the product mix, production volumes and the oil and gas reserves. Certain estimates and assumptions adopted by the management in the impairment reviews and calculations are formed by the internal professional team (including operations and finance teams) by reference to external institutions’ analysis reports and taking into account current economic conditions. The other estimates and assumptions are consistent with the assumptions used in our business plans.

 

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In forming the relevant estimates and assumptions for impairment tests by our management, our internal professional team (including operations and finance teams) forms a preliminary conclusion by reference to the external institutions’ analysis reports and our historical financial data, and taking into account current economic conditions and our business plans. Then, the preliminary conclusion is reviewed and approved by the management. The approved estimates and assumptions are then utilized by our subsidiaries and branches to perform the impairment tests.

When determining whether there are indications of impairment for oil and gas properties, we consider internal factors, mainly including the decline of production and reserves volumes at the late development stage of certain oil blocks and a significant drop in economic benefits of certain oil blocks resulting from the lower price of crude oil, and external factors, mainly including a significant drop in international prices of crude oil, resulting from the imbalance of supply and demand of crude oil. When an indication of impairment of certain oil blocks is identified, we will perform the impairment tests on the oil blocks. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the cash-generating unit exceeds the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. Value in use is determined by reference to the discounted expected future cash flows to be derived from the cash-generating unit.

The expected medium-to-long-term future international prices of crude oil utilized by us when estimating the expected future cash flows are determined mainly based upon the forecast of the international prices of crude oil made by principal international investment institutions combined with the judgment and analysis of the future trends of international prices of crude oil made by us. We calculated the expected future cash flows of each oil block according to the estimates of future production volume levels per year stated in the oil and gas reserves reports, the estimates of operation costs of oil and gas made by us, and taking into account its future capital expenditure plan. We refer to the weighted average cost of capital of the oil and gas industry when determining the discount rate and makes relevant adjustments according to specific risks in different countries or regions. In the year ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the after-tax discount rates adopted by most of our oil and gas regions were between 7.6% - 11.0%, 7.3% - 11.5%, and 6.4% - 15.4%, respectively.

Given the broad scope of our property, plant and equipment, the impairment test involves numerous assumptions, which are interrelated to each other to a certain extent. For example, the estimates and judgments with respect to the product mix, production costs and oil and gas reserves may vary along with the changes in crude oil prices. The sensitivity analysis performed after taking into account the interrelationship among all of the estimates and judgments would be neither cost efficient nor time efficient. As a result, the management believes that a sensitivity analysis of relevant assumptions on impairment is not practicable. Favorable changes to some assumptions might have avoided the need to impair any assets or make it necessary to reverse an impairment loss recognized in prior periods, whereas unfavorable changes might have caused an additional unknown number of other assets to become impaired, or resulted in larger impacts on impaired assets.

Our operating results in the following fiscal year may deviate from management’s estimates or judgments. This would require an adjustment to the provision for impairment of the property, plant and equipment disclosed in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

Gains and losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment are determined by reference to their carrying amounts and are recorded in the consolidated profit or loss.

Interest and other costs on borrowings to finance the purchase and construction of property, plant and equipment are capitalized during the period of time that is required to complete and prepare the asset for its intended use. Costs for repairs and maintenance activities are expensed as incurred except for costs of components that result in improvements or betterments which are capitalized as part of property, plant and equipment and depreciated over their useful lives.

 

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Asset Retirement Obligation

Provision is recognized for the future decommissioning and restoration of oil and gas properties. The amounts of the provision recognized are the present values of the estimated future expenditures. The estimation of the future expenditures is based on current local conditions and requirements, including legal requirements, technology, price level, etc. In addition to these factors, the present values of these estimated future expenditures are also impacted by the estimation of the economic lives of oil and gas properties. Changes in any of these estimates will impact the operating results and the financial position of the Company over the remaining economic lives of the oil and gas properties.

Operating Results

The following discussion is based on our historical results of operations. As a result of the factors discussed above, such results of operations may not be indicative of our future operating performance.

Our statement of comprehensive income for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 is summarized in the table below.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2017*     2018*     2019  
     (RMB in millions)  

Revenue

     2,032,298       2,374,934       2,516,810  

Operating expenses

     (1,961,462     (2,251,992     (2,395,048

Profit from operations

     70,836       122,942       121,762  

Exchange (loss)/gain, net

     (1,184     1,120       1  

Interest expense, net

     (19,929     (18,939     (26,778

Share of profit of affiliates and joint ventures

     5,968       11,647       8,229  

Profit before income tax expense

     55,691       116,770       103,214  

Income tax expense

     (16,296     (42,790     (36,199

Profit for the year attributable to non-controlling interests

     15,858       20,944       21,333  

Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company

     23,537       53,036       45,682  

 

*

We have initially applied IFRS 16 on January 1, 2019 and IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 on January 1, 2018. According to the adopted transition plan, the comparative data has not been restated. For a detailed description of the changes and impacts of these accounting standards, please refer to “3 (aa) New Accounting Standards” in our financial statements.

The table below sets forth our revenue by business segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 as well as the percentage changes in revenue for the periods shown.

 

     2017     2018     2018
vs.
2017
    2019     2019
vs.
2018
 
     (RMB in millions, except percentages)  

Revenue

          

Exploration and production

     505,430       658,712       30.3     676,320       2.7

Refining and chemicals

     735,486       911,224       23.9     902,679       (0.9 )% 

Marketing

     1,660,456       2,003,105       20.6     2,165,391       8.1

Natural gas and pipeline

     295,786       362,626       22.6     391,023       7.8

Headquarters and others

     2,057       2,376       15.5     3,700       55.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total

     3,199,215       3,938,043       23.1     4,139,113       5.1

Less intersegment sales

     (1,166,917     (1,563,109     34.0     (1,622,303     3.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Consolidated net sales from operations

     2,032,298       2,374,934       16.9     2,516,810       6.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

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The table below sets forth our operating income by business segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, as well as the percentage changes in operating income for the periods shown. Loss from operations for headquarters and others shown below consists of expenses for research and development, business services and infrastructure support to our operating business segments.

 

     2017     2018     2018
vs.
2017
    2019     2019
vs.
2018
 
     (RMB in millions, except percentages)  

Profit/(loss) from operations

          

Exploration and production

     15,475       73,519       375.1     96,097       30.7

Refining and chemicals

     43,075       44,701       3.8     13,764       (69.2 )% 

Marketing

     8,279       (6,450     (177.9 )%      (565     (91.2 )% 

Natural gas and pipeline

     15,688       25,515       62.6     26,108       2.3

Headquarters and others

     (11,681     (14,343     22.8     (13,642     (4.9 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total

     70,836       122,942       73.6     121,762       (1.0 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2018

Consolidated Results of Operations

Overview

In 2019, our revenue was RMB2,516,810 million, representing an increase of 6.0% as compared to 2018. Net profit attributable to owners of the Company was RMB45,682 million, representing a decrease of 13.9% as compared to 2018. Basic earnings per share were RMB0.25, representing a decrease of RMB0.04 as compared to 2018.

Revenue Revenue increased by 6.0% from RMB2,374,934 million in 2018 to RMB2,516,810 million in 2019. This was primarily due to the comprehensive impact of the increase in sales volume, partially offset by a decrease in selling prices of a majority of oil and gas products.

The table below sets out external sales volume and average realized prices for our major products in 2018 and 2019 and the respective percentage of change:

 

     Sales Volume
(‘000 ton)
    Average Realized Price
(RMB/ton)
 
     2018      2019      Percentage
of Change

(%)
    2018      2019      Percentage
of Change

(%)
 

Crude oil*

     110,457        150,322        36.1       3,213        3,162        (1.6

Natural gas (hundred million cubic meters, RMB/’000 cubic meter)**

     2,167.54        2,590.91        19.5       1,367        1,313        (4.0

Gasoline

     71,125        76,366        7.4       7,024        6,487        (7.6

Diesel

     86,904        90,163        3.8       5,478        5,286        (3.5

Kerosene

     20,619        21,183        2.7       4,534        4,255        (6.2

Heavy oil

     19,964        18,095        (9.4     3,335        3,249        (2.6

Polyethylene

     4,644        4,985        7.3       8,816        7,443        (15.6

Lubricant

     1,158        977        (15.6     7,875        8,047        2.2  

 

*

The sales volumes of crude oil listed above represents all our external sales volume of crude oil.

**

The sales volumes of natural gas listed above represents all our external sales volume of natural gas, and the decrease in average realized price of natural gas in 2019 as compared to 2018 was primarily due to a decrease in the average realized price of natural gas in our international trade business.

 

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Operating Expenses Operating expenses increased by 6.4% from RMB2,251,992 million in 2018 to RMB2,395,048 million in 2019, of which:

Purchases, Services and Other Expenses Purchases, services and other expenses increased by 9.3% from RMB1,553,784 million in 2018 to RMB1,697,834 million in 2019. This was primarily due to an increase in the Company’s expenses relating to purchase of oil and gas products and other international trading activities.

Employee Compensation Costs Employee compensation costs (including salaries and additional costs such as insurance, housing provident funds and training fees) increased by 6.9% from RMB144,391 million in 2018 to RMB154,318 million in 2019. This was primarily due to the increase in employee remuneration and contribution to social security funds.

Exploration Expenses Exploration expenses increased by 10.9% from RMB18,726 million in 2018 to RMB20,775 million in 2019. This was primarily due to increased exploration efforts to enhance reserves and production.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation, depletion and amortization decreased by 3.0% from RMB232,276 million in 2018 to RMB225,262 million in 2019. This was primarily due to a combined effect of the Company’s provision of asset impairment in order to optimize asset structure and solidify asset quality, and implementation of the new lease standards. As a result of implementation of the new lease standards, we recognized depreciation expenses of RMB14,973 million over the assets that we had right of use in 2019.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 7.9% from RMB74,477 million in 2018 to RMB68,596 million in 2019. This was primarily due to the fact that the Company strictly controlled non-production expenses in order to continue to implement the plan of broadening sources of income, reducing expenditures and costs, and enhancing profitability, and a decrease of RMB16,682 in lease expenditures as compared to 2018 as a result of implementation of new lease standards.

Taxes other than Income Taxes Taxes other than income taxes increased by 3.5% from RMB220,677 million for 2018 to RMB228,436 million in 2019, among which the consumption tax increased by RMB12,479 million from RMB152,494 million in 2018 to RMB164,973 million in 2019; the resource tax increased by RMB49 million from RMB24,339 million in 2018 to RMB24,388 million in 2019; and crude oil special gain levy decreased by RMB3,979 million from RMB4,750 million in 2018 to RMB771 million in 2019.

Other Income/(Expenses), net Net other income in 2019 was RMB173 million, while the net other expenses in 2018 was RMB7,661 million, primarily due to a decrease in net losses from disposal of fixed assets and oil and gas assets.

Profit from Operations The profit from operations in 2019 was RMB121,762 million, representing a decrease of 1.0% from RMB122,942 million in 2018.

Net Exchange Gain Net exchange gain in 2019 was RMB1 million, representing a decrease of 99.9% from RMB1,120 million in 2018. This is primarily due to the changes in exchange rate of the Renminbi against the US Dollar during the period.

Net Interest Expense Net interest expense increased by 41.4% from RMB18,939 million in 2018 to RMB26,778 million in 2019, primarily due to the effects of lease liabilities recognized under the new lease standards and the accrued interest expenses. Excluding the impact of the new lease standards, net interest expenses increased by 1.9% as compared to 2018.

Profit Before Income Tax Expense Profit before income tax expense decreased by 11.6% from RMB116,770 million in 2018 to RMB103,214 million in 2019.

 

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Income Tax Expense The income tax expense decreased by 15.4% from RMB42,790 million in 2018 to RMB36,199 million in 2019, which was primarily due to the decrease in the Company’s profit before income tax expense in 2019 as compared to 2018.

Profit for the Year Net profit in 2019 decreased by 9.4% to RMB67,015 million from RMB73,980 million in 2018.

Profit Attributable to Non-controlling Interests Profit attributable to non-controlling interests increased by 1.9% from RMB20,944 million in 2018 to RMB21,333 million in 2019, primarily due to changes in the profit structure of the Company’s subsidiaries.

Profit Attributable to Owners of the Company Profit attributable to owners of the Company decreased by 13.9% from RMB53,036 million in 2018 to RMB45,682 million in 2019.

Segment Results

Exploration and Production

Revenue Revenue of the exploration and production segment in 2019 was RMB676,320 million, representing an increase of 2.7% from RMB658,712 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to the increase in the sales volume of oil and gas, partially offset by the decline in the price of crude oil. In 2019, the oil imported from Russia, Kazakhstan and certain other countries amounted to 39.95 million tons, representing an increase of 8.9% over the 36.69 million tons in 2018. The revenue from the sales of imported oil from Russia, Kazakhstan and certain other countries was RMB131,723 million in 2019, representing an increase of 2.7% from RMB128,308 million in 2018. The average realized crude oil price of the Company in 2019 was US$60.96 per barrel, representing a decrease of 10.7% from US$68.28 per barrel in 2018.

Operating Expenses Operating expenses of the exploration and production segment decreased by 0.8% from RMB585,193 million in 2018 to RMB580,223 million in 2019. This was primarily due to a decrease in depreciation, depletion and amortization, and taxes and fees other than income tax, partially offset by an increase in exploration costs. In 2019, The cost for importing oil from Russia, Kazakhstan and certain other countries amounted to RMB130,941 million, representing an increase of 1.8% from RMB128,637 million in 2018.

In 2019, the unit oil and gas lifting cost of the Company was US$12.11 per barrel, representing a decrease of 1.6% from US$12.31 per barrel in 2018.

Profit from Operations In 2019, our domestic operations adhered to the principle of profit-orientation to promote the increase of reserves and production, realized an increase in crude oil production and a significant increase in natural gas production, strengthened the control of investment costs at the source, refined the management of production and operation costs, and promoted quality improvement and profitability. Our overseas operations, adhered to profitable development, strictly managed early-stage investment projects, optimized the investment structure, and strived to promote sales and maximize revenue. In 2019, the exploration and production segment realized an operating profit of RMB96,097 million, representing an increase of 30.7% from RMB73,519 million in 2018, maintaining its status as a main profit contributor of the Company.

Refining and Chemicals

Revenue The revenue of the refining and chemicals segment decreased by 0.9% from RMB911,224 million in 2018 to RMB902,679 million in 2019, primarily due to a combined effect of the changes in sales volume and prices of refined oil products, and the marketization of internal settlement prices.

Operating Expenses Operating expenses of the refining and chemicals segment increased by 2.6% from RMB866,523 million in 2018 to RMB888,915 million in 2019, primarily due to an increase in the cost of crude oil and feedstock, and an increase in the production costs of auxiliary materials and power.

 

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In 2019, the cash processing cost of refineries of the Company was RMB168.64 per ton, remaining basically the same as compared to 2018.

Profit from Operations In 2019, the refining and chemicals segment continued to deepen benchmarking management to facilitate the transition from cost benchmarking to business benchmarking; tap into internal talent and vigorously strengthen management and control over costs and expenses; adhere to the principles of market and profit-orientation, promote the upgrading of refined oil quality and the research and development of high value-added chemical products, optimize product structure and enhance profitability. However, as affected by factors such as excessive domestic refining capacity, narrower margins, a fall in prices of chemical products and the marketization of internal settlement prices which resulted in a fall in prices, the refining and chemicals segment realized an operating profit of RMB13,764 million in 2019, representing a decrease of 69.2% as compared to RMB44,701 million in 2018. Specifically, the refining operations recorded an operating profit of RMB10,337 million, representing a decrease of 72.0% as compared to RMB36,878 million in 2018, while the chemical operations realized an operating profit of RMB3,427 million, representing a decrease of 56.2%, as compared to RMB7,823 million in 2018.

Marketing

Revenue The revenue of the marketing segment increased by 8.1% from RMB2,003,105 million in 2018 to RMB2,165,391 million in 2019, primarily due to an increase in international trading volume of oil and gas products.

Operating Expenses Operating expenses of the marketing segment increased by 7.8% from RMB2,009,555 million in 2018 to RMB2,165,956 million in 2019, primarily due to an increase in the expenditures for purchase of refined oil.

Loss from Operations In 2019, the marketing segment actively responded to the challenges of excessive market resources and intensified competition, deepened the regional precise marketing and integrated marketing of refined products, fuel cards, non-oil business, and lubricants, accelerated the establishment of new retail models, and strived to pursue quality and profitability. In international trade, it accelerated the development of its global logistics and marketing network and strengthened the synergy between domestic and international resources to enhance profitability. In 2019, due to the strengthening of marketing measures and the marketization of internal settlement, the marketing segment recorded an operating loss of RMB565 million, representing a decrease of loss of RMB5,885 million as compared to the operating loss of RMB6,450 million in 2018.

Natural Gas and Pipeline

Revenue The revenue of the natural gas and pipeline segment amounted to RMB391,023 million in 2019, representing an increase of 7.8% as compared to RMB362,626 million in 2018, primarily due to an increase in the sales volume of natural gas.

Operating Expenses Operating expenses of the natural gas and pipeline segment amounted to RMB364,915 million in 2019, representing an increase of 8.2% as compared to RMB337,111 million in 2018, primarily due to the increase in the expenditure of natural gas purchase.

Profit from Operations In 2019, the natural gas and pipeline segment, based on the overall coordinated and effective operation of the industrial chain, deepened our resource management through “tagging”, prioritized the full production and sales of domestic gas, effectively controlled resource costs, continuously optimized resource flows and sales structures, and vigorously promoted online transactions. While consolidating the wholesale market, we actively expanded the end market. In 2019, the natural gas and pipeline segment realized an operating profit of RMB26,108 million, representing an increase of 2.3% as compared to RMB25,515 million in 2018.

In 2019, the natural gas and pipeline segment took active measures to control the loss from imported natural gas. However, as the cost of imported natural gas increased due to the changes in exchange rates, while the

 

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increases in the domestic natural gas price were restricted under a nationwide policy environment of reducing taxes and fees, the segment recorded a net loss of RMB30,710 million in sales of imported natural gas, representing an increase of loss of RMB5,803 million as compared to last year. The Company will endeavor to adopt effective measures to control losses.

In 2019, the Company’s international operations realized a revenue of RMB1,040,117 million, accounting for 41.3% of the Company’s total revenue. Profit before income tax expenses amounted to RMB18,885 million. The Company’s international operations maintained stable development and further improved its operating ability internationally.

Our four operating segments are exploration and production, refining and chemicals, marketing as well as natural gas and pipeline. Overseas operations do not constitute a separate operating segment. The financial data of overseas operations are included in the financial data of the respective operating segment mentioned above.

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2017

Consolidated Results of Operations

Overview

In 2018, our revenue was RMB2,374,934 million, representing an increase of 16.9% as compared to 2017. Net profit attributable to owners of the company was RMB53,036 million, representing an increase of 125.3% as compared to 2017. Basic earnings per share were RMB0.29, representing an increase of RMB0.16 as compared to 2017.

Revenue Our revenue increased by 16.9% from RMB2,032,298 million in 2017 to RMB 2,374,934 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the prices of a majority of our oil and gas products.

The table below sets out the external sales volume and average realized prices for our major products in 2017 and 2018 and the respective percentage changes for the periods shown:

 

     Sales Volume
(‘000 ton)
    Average Realized Price
(RMB/ton)
 
     2017      2018      Percentage
of Change

(%)
    2017      2018      Percentage
of Change

(%)
 

Crude oil*

     114,930        110,457        (3.9     2,392        3,213        34.3  

Natural gas (hundred million cubic meters, RMB/’000 cubic meter)**

     1,989.59        2,167.54        8.9       1,235        1,367        10.7  

Gasoline

     65,293        71,125        8.9       6,386        7,024        10.0  

Diesel

     87,324        86,904        (0.5     4,600        5,478        19.1  

Kerosene

     18,118        20,619        13.8       3,551        4,534        27.7  

Heavy oil

     23,395        19,964        (14.7     2,380        3,335        40.1  

Polyethylene

     4,739        4,644        (2.0     8,559        8,816        3.0  

Lubricant

     1,283        1,158        (9.7     7,693        7,875        2.4  

 

Note:  

*  The sales volumes of crude oil listed in the table above represent all of our external sales volumes. The decrease in crude oil sales volume in 2018 as compared to 2017 was primarily due to the decrease in our international trading volume of crude oil.

 

** The increase in natural gas average realized price in 2018 as compared to 2017 was primarily due to a combined effect of an increase in the entrepot trading price of natural gas and effective measures taken by the Company to optimize the structure of natural gas sales.

Operating Expenses Operating expenses increased by 14.8% from RMB1,961,462 million in 2017 to RMB2,251,992 million in 2018.

 

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Purchases, Services and Other Expenses Purchases, services and other expenses increased by 20.0% from RMB1,295,032 million in 2017 to RMB1,553,784 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to an increase in expenses relating to the purchase of oil and gas products and other trading activities as a result of the increase in oil and gas prices.

Employee Compensation Costs Employee compensation costs (including salaries and additional costs such as insurance, housing funds and training fees) were RMB144,391 million in 2018, representing an increase of 14.9% from RMB125,703 million in 2017. This increase was primarily due to an increase in our employee salaries and costs according to our performance-based remuneration system and in line with the general increase in average employee salaries in the industry.

Exploration Expenses Exploration expenses decreased by 21.6% from RMB23,884 million in 2017 to RMB18,726 million in 2018. This decrease was primarily due to the fact that, we optimized our exploration deployment resulting in a decrease in dry well expenses.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation, depletion and amortization decreased by 2.3% from RMB237,807 million in 2017 to RMB232,276 million in 2018. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the depletion of oil and gas properties as a result of an increase in the proved undeveloped reserves and the decrease in depletion ratio caused by the rise of oil and gas prices, partially offset by an increase in asset impairment provision in 2018 as compared to 2017.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 4.0% from RMB77,557 million in 2017 to RMB74,477 million in 2018. This decrease was primarily due to our continuing efforts to broaden our income sources, reduce expenditure and costs, enhance efficiency, and strictly control our non-production related expenses.

Taxes other than Income Taxes Taxes other than income taxes increased by 10.0% from RMB200,704 million in 2017 to RMB220,677 million in 2018. This was primarily due to the increase in crude oil prices in 2018 as compared to 2017. In particular, (i) we incurred a crude oil special gain levy of RMB4,750 million in 2018 due to the increase in crude oil prices as a special gain levy is payable only if the crude oil price reaches US$65 per barrel or above, while in 2017, no crude oil special gain levy was incurred; (ii) the consumption tax we paid increased by RMB7,521 million from RMB144,973 million in 2017 to RMB152,494 million in 2018; and (iii) the resource tax we paid increased by RMB6,339 million from RMB18,000 million in 2017 to RMB24,339 million in 2018.

Other Expenses, net Net other expenses was RMB7,661 million in 2018, representing an increase of RMB6,886 million from RMB775 million in 2017. This was primarily due to a combined effect of the increase in the losses from disposal of assets, as partially offset by the increase in the VAT refund relating to the importation of natural gas as recognized in 2018.

Profit from Operations The profit from operations in 2018 was RMB122,942 million, representing an increase of 73.6% from RMB70,836 million in 2017.

Net Exchange Gain /(Loss) Net exchange gain in 2018 was RMB1,120 million, as compared to the net exchange loss of RMB1,184 million in 2017. This was primarily due to the appreciation of US Dollar against Renminbi as compared to the end of 2017.

Net Interest Expense Net interest expense decreased by 5.0% from RMB19,929 million in 2017 to RMB18,939 million in 2018, primarily due to a combined effect of a decrease in the average balance of interest-bearing borrowings, a decrease in interest expenses and an increase in income from deposits as compared to 2017.

 

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Profit Before Income Tax Expense Profit before income tax expense increased by 109.7% from RMB55,691 million in 2017 to RMB116,770 million in 2018.

Income Tax Expense The income tax expense increased by 162.6% from RMB16,296 million in 2017 to RMB42,790 million in 2018, which was primarily due to the increase in taxable income.

Profit for the Year As a result of the foregoing, our profit in 2018 increased by 87.8% from RMB39,395 million in 2017 to RMB73,980 million in 2018.

Profit Attributable to Non-controlling Interests Profit attributable to non-controlling interests increased by 32.1% from RMB15,858 million in 2017 to RMB20,944 million in 2018, which was primarily due to the increase in profits of certain of our subsidiaries in 2018.

Profit Attributable to Owners of the Company Profit attributable to owners of the company increased by 125.3% from RMB23,537 million in 2017 to RMB53,036 million in 2018.

Segment Results

Exploration and Production Segment

Revenue Revenue of the exploration and production segment was RMB658,712 million in 2018, representing an increase of 30.3% from RMB505,430 million in 2017. This increase was primarily due to the increase in the prices of crude oil and natural gas and increase in the sales volume of natural gas. Our average realized crude oil price in 2018 was US$68.28 per barrel, representing an increase of 34.8% from US$50.64 per barrel in 2017.

Operating Expenses Operating expenses of the exploration and production segment increased by 19.4% from RMB489,955 million in 2017 to RMB585,193 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to the combined effects of (i) an increase in procurement expenditure resulting from the increase in volume and price of imported oil from Russia and Kazakhstan; (ii) the impairment provision for certain oil and gas assets with higher costs of development and production made in accordance with the accounting standards; and (iii) the increase in taxes other than income taxes as compared to 2017.

In 2018, the unit oil and gas lifting cost was US$12.31 per barrel, representing an increase of 6.8% from US$11.53 per barrel in 2017. Excluding the effect of changes in exchange rate, the lifting cost increased by 4.6% from 2017, primarily due to an increase in power, materials and labor costs in 2018 as compared to 2017.

Profit from Operations In 2018, we stressed our low-cost development strategy and meticulous management, continued to promote steady output of crude oil, made greater efforts in exploration and production in main gas areas and optimized our production structure, resulting in a steady increase in gas output. In overseas operations, we took advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative, actively promoted the international cooperation in our oil and gas business, and formulated our development strategy based on project potential and enhanced dynamic control and management of investment. In 2018, the exploration and production segment realized an operating profit of RMB73,519 million, representing an increase of RMB58,044 million from RMB15,475 million in 2017, and returned to its position as a main profit contributor of our company.

Refining and Chemicals Segment

Revenue The revenue of the refining and chemicals segment increased by 23.9% from RMB735,486 million in 2017 to RMB911,224 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to the increase in the prices of refined products and the fact that we produced more high-profitability products as a result of our optimized product structure. Both the prices and sales volume of certain refined and chemical products increased.

 

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Operating Expenses Operating expenses of the refining and chemicals segment increased by 25.1% from RMB692,411 million in 2017 to RMB866,523 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to the combined effects of (i) an increase in expenses associated with the purchase of crude oil and feedstock oil from external suppliers; and (ii) an impairment provision made in accordance with the accounting standards for certain facilities scheduled to be deactivated as a result of the regulations to promote the use of ethanol in vehicles.

In 2018, the cash processing cost of our refineries was RMB167.74 per ton, representing an increase of RMB0.15 per ton from RMB167.59 per ton in 2017, primarily due to an increase in power and labor cost as compared to 2017.

Profit from Operations In 2018, in our refining and chemicals segment, in response to market demand, we increased the processing load of the facilities with high efficiency, continued to adjust our product structure, increased production of high value-added and market-favorable products, and intensified management and control over our costs and expenses, maintaining a good position in profit contribution. In 2018, we realized operating profits of RMB44,701 million in the refining and chemicals segment, representing an increase of 3.8% as compared to RMB43,075 million in 2017. The refining operations recorded an operating profit of RMB36,878 million, representing an increase of 3.3% as compared to RMB35,687 million in 2017. Our chemical operations realized an operating profit of RMB7,823 million, representing an increase of 5.9%, as compared to RMB7,388 million in 2017.

Marketing Segment

Revenue Revenue of the marketing segment increased by 20.6% from RMB1,660,456 million in 2017 to RMB2,003,105 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to the combined effects of (i) the increase in both sales volume and prices of products such as gasoline and kerosene, and the rise in the price of diesel as partially offset by the decrease in the sales volume of diesel; and (ii) the increase in revenue derived from trading of oil products.

Operating Expenses Operating expenses of the marketing segment increased by 21.6% from RMB1,652,177 million in 2017 to RMB2,009,555 million in 2018, primarily due to an increase in the expenses for purchase of refined oil from external suppliers.

(Loss) /profit from Operations In 2018, facing an unfavorable situation of substantial surplus in domestic resources and fiercer competition in the market, our domestic marketing segment adhered to the principle of market-orientation and efficiency, adopted active measures to address market competition, maximized efforts to increase our market share and enhance efficiency, and effectively ensured the proper downstream operations of our refineries, so as to realize the value of our industrial chain. In international trading, the marketing segment intensified coordination and cooperation with domestic industrial chains, and optimized the import and export of oil and gas resources. In 2018, affected by certain factors including fierce market competition and an adverse effect on profit from inventories due to a sharp decrease in oil prices in the fourth quarter, the marketing segment recorded an operating loss of RMB6,450 million, representing a decrease of RMB14,729 million as compared to the operating profit of RMB8,279 million in 2017.

Natural Gas and Pipeline Segment

Revenue Revenue of the natural gas and pipeline segment amounted to RMB362,626 million in 2018, representing an increase of 22.6% as compared to RMB295,786 million in 2017, primarily due to the increase in the sales volume of natural gas.

Operating Expenses Operating expenses of the natural gas and pipeline segment amounted to RMB337,111 million in 2018, representing an increase of 20.4% as compared to RMB280,098 million in 2017, primarily due to the increase in the expenses for purchasing natural gas.

 

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Profit from Operations In 2018, in the natural gas and pipeline segment, in line with the increased demand for natural gas in the domestic market, we optimized our marketing strategies, made great efforts to expand into the high-end and high-profitability market, and continued to enhance the value of our natural gas business chain. In 2018, we realized an operating profit of RMB25,515 million, representing an increase of 62.6% as compared to RMB15,688 million in 2017.

In 2018, the volume of imported natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) increased substantially. We took active measures to control the loss arising from the imported natural gas, and recorded a net loss of RMB24,907 million in the sale of imported natural gas, representing an increase in loss of RMB960 million as compared to 2017. We will continue to adopt vigorous measures to control losses.

In 2018, our international operations realized revenue of RMB836,619 million, accounting for 35.2% of our total revenue. Profit before income tax expense amounted to RMB4,781 million. Our international operations maintained a healthy development with further improved operating ability.

Our four operating segments are exploration and production, refining and chemicals, marketing as well as natural gas and pipeline. Overseas operations do not constitute a separate operating segment. The financial data of overseas operations are included in the financial data of the respective operating segment mentioned above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of funding include cash generated by operating activities and short-term and long-term borrowings, which are expected to be sufficient for our funding requirements for at least the next twelve months. Our primary uses of funds were for operating activities, capital expenditures, repayment of short-term and long-term borrowings and distributions of dividends to shareholders. Our payments to CNPC are limited to dividends and payments for services provided to us by CNPC. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we distribute dividends of 45% of our net profit attributable to owners of the Company recorded under IFRS, and additional interim and final special dividends in return to our shareholders. See “Item 8 — Financial Information — Dividend Policy” for a discussion of factors which may affect the determination by our board of directors of the appropriate level of dividends.

Our financing ability may be limited by our financial condition, our results of operations and the international and domestic capital markets. Prior to accessing the international and domestic capital markets, we must obtain approval from the relevant PRC government authorities. In general, we must obtain PRC government approval for any project involving significant capital investment for our refining and chemicals, marketing and natural gas and pipeline segments. For a more detailed discussion of factors which may affect our ability to satisfy our financing requirements, see “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Liquidity”.

We plan to fund the capital and related expenditures described in this annual report principally through cash from operating activities, short-term and long-term borrowings and cash and cash equivalents. Net cash flows from operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2019 was RMB359,610 million. As of December 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of RMB86,409 million. While each of the projects described in this annual report for which significant capital expenditures will be required is important to our future development, we do not believe that failure to implement any one of these projects would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. If the price of crude oil declines sharply in the future, it is likely that we would delay or reduce the scale of the capital expenditures for each segment.

We currently do not have any outstanding options, warrants or other rights for any person to require us to issue any common stock at a price below its market value. We do not currently intend to issue any such rights or to otherwise issue any common stock for a price below its market value.

 

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In addition, as of December 31, 2019, we did not have any transactions, arrangements or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons that are reasonably likely to materially affect the liquidity or availability of or requirements for our capital resources.

The table below sets forth our cash flows for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and our cash equivalents at the end of each year.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2017     2018     2019  
     (RMB in millions)  

Net cash flows from operating activities

     368,729       353,256       359,610  

Net cash flows used for investing activities

     (243,790     (267,812     (332,948

Net cash flows used for financing activities

     (96,746     (125,703     (27,276

Currency translation difference

     (3,551     2,513       1,069  

Cash and cash equivalents at year end

     123,700       85,954       86,409  

Our cash and cash equivalents increased by 0.5% from RMB85,954 million as of December 31, 2018 to RMB86,409 million as of December 31, 2019.

Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Our net cash flows from operating activities amounted to RMB359,610 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, representing an increase of 1.8% from RMB353,256 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This was mainly due to a combined effect of the changes in inventories, receivables, payables and contract obligations during the reporting period. As of December 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of RMB86,409 million. Our cash and cash equivalents were mainly denominated in US Dollars and Renminbi (approximately 57.2% were denominated in US Dollars, approximately 37.6% were denominated in Renminbi, approximately 3.6% were denominated in HK Dollars and approximately 1.6% were denominated in other currencies).

Our net cash flows from operating activities amounted to RMB353,256 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, representing a decrease of 4.2% from RMB368,729 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. This was mainly due to a combined effect of the changes in inventories, receivables and payables and other working capital and the increase in taxes, employee fees during the reporting period. As of December 31, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of RMB85,954 million. Our cash and cash equivalents were mainly denominated in Renminbi and US Dollars (approximately 46.2% were denominated in Renminbi, approximately 49.1% were denominated in US Dollars, approximately 2.1% were denominated in HK Dollars and approximately 2.6% were denominated in other currencies).

Net Cash Flows Used for Investing Activities

Our net cash flows used for investing activities in 2019 amounted to RMB332,948 million, representing an increase of 24.3% from RMB267,812 million in 2018. The increase was primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures in 2019.

Our net cash flows used for investing activities in 2018 amounted to RMB267,812 million, representing an increase of 9.9% from RMB243,790 million in 2017. The increase was primarily due to an increase in capital expenditures as a result of the adjustment of our investment plans based on the oil price trend and market changes in 2018.

Net Cash Flows Used for Financing Activities

Our net cash flows used for financing activities in 2019 was RMB27,276 million, representing a decrease of 78.3% from RMB125,703 million in 2018. This was primarily due to the changes in long and short-term borrowings during the reporting period.

 

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Our net cash flows used for financing activities in 2018 was RMB125,703 million, representing an increase of 29.9% from RMB96,746 million in 2017. This was primarily due to a decrease in new borrowings as a result of our efforts to optimize our debt structure and reduce our debt in 2018.

Our net borrowings as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were as follows:

 

     As of December 31,  
     2017      2018      2019  
     (RMB in millions)  

Short-term borrowings (including current portion of long-term borrowings)

     184,601        145,150        175,840  

Long-term borrowings

     289,858        269,422        290,882  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total borrowings

     474,459        414,572        466,722  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less: cash and cash equivalents

     123,700        85,954        86,409  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net borrowings

     350,759        328,618        380,313  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table sets out the remaining contractual maturity of borrowings as at the respective dates according to the earliest contractual maturity dates. The amounts set out below are contractual undiscounted cash flows, including principal and interest:

 

     As of December 31,  
     2018      2019  
    

(RMB in million)

 

Within 1 year

     158,782        188,771  

Between 1 and 2 years

     98,939        30,090  

Between 2 and 5 years

     150,837        253,918  

After 5 years

     43,879        31,576  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     452,437        504,355  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Our total borrowings as of December 31, 2019 consisted of approximately 53.6% of fixed-rate loans and approximately 46.4% of floating-rate loans. Of our borrowings as of December 31, 2019, approximately 76.4% were denominated in Renminbi, approximately 21.5% were denominated in US Dollars and approximately 2.1% were denominated in other currencies.

Our total borrowings as of December 31, 2018 consisted of approximately 48.6% of fixed-rate loans and approximately 51.4% of floating-rate loans. Of our borrowings as of December 31, 2018, approximately 71.8% were denominated in Renminbi, approximately 25.9% were denominated in US Dollars and approximately 2.3% were denominated in other currencies.

Our total borrowings as of December 31, 2017 consisted of approximately 54.2% of fixed-rate loans and approximately 45.8% of floating-rate loans. Of our borrowings as of December 31, 2017, approximately 71.7% were denominated in Renminbi, approximately 26.5% were denominated in US Dollars and approximately 1.8% were denominated in other currencies.

Our debt to capital ratio (calculated by dividing interest-bearing debts by the aggregate of interest-bearing debts and shareholder’s equity; interest-bearing debts including various long and short term borrowings) as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 was 25.5%, 22.7% and 24.4%.

As of December 31, 2019, the outstanding amount of our debts secured by CNPC and its subsidiaries and other third parties was RMB22,313 million.

 

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Capital Expenditures and Investments

In 2019, we focused on the principles of quality for capital expenditures, continued to optimize our investment structure and control our overall capital expenditures, with a focus on the investment in upstream oil and gas projects in order to enhance our sustainable development capability. In 2019, our capital expenditures were RMB296,776 million, representing an increase of 15.9% from RMB256,106 million in 2018.

The table below sets forth our capital expenditures and investments by business segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Our board of directors has approved a total estimated capital expenditures of RBM295,000 million for 2020. Considering the impact of COVID-19 and the volatility in international oil prices, we intend to follow the principle of maintaining positive free cash flow, and dynamically adjust our capital expenditures for 2020. Please refer to “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to COVID-19”.

 

     2017      2018      2019  
     (RMB in
millions)
     %      (RMB in
millions)
     %      (RMB in
millions)
     %  

Exploration and production(1)

     161,997        74.87        196,109        76.57        230,117        77.54  

Refining and chemicals

     17,859        8.25        15,419        6.02        21,279        7.17  

Marketing

     10,982        5.08        17,010        6.64        17,618        5.94  

Natural gas and pipeline

     24,529        11.34        26,502        10.35        27,004        9.10  

Headquarters and others

     1,014        0.46        1,066        0.42        758        0.25  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     216,381        100.00        256,106        100.00        296,776        100.00  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

If investments related to geological and geophysical exploration costs are included, the capital expenditures and investments for the exploration and production segment in 2017, 2018, 2019 would be RMB176,426 million, RMB206,256 million and RMB241,992 million, respectively.

As of December 31, 2019, the capital commitments contracted but not provided for by us were approximately RMB56,856 million.

Exploration and Production

A majority of our capital expenditures and investments relate to our exploration and production segment. For each of the three years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, capital expenditures in relation to the exploration and production segment amounted to RMB161,997 million, RMB196,109 million and RMB230,117, respectively. In 2019, our capital expenditures were primarily used for exploration activities in the key basins such as Songliao Basin, Erdos Basin, Tarim Basin, Sichuan Basin and Bohai Bay Basin and for development activities in the oil and gas fields of Daqing, Changqing, Liaohe, Xinjiang, Tarim and the Southwest region, as well as for the operation of existing projects and the development of new projects in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific regions, and realized an effective growth in our production and profitability.

We anticipate that the capital expenditures for our exploration and production segment in 2020 will be as follows. Domestic exploration activities will continue to be focused on the key basins such as Songliao Basin, Erdos Basin, Tarim Basin, Sichuan Basin and Bohai Bay Basin and we will strengthen the development of unconventional resources such as shale gas. We will endeavor to achieve an oil and gas equivalent output of more than 200 million tons in 2020. Overseas operations will still be aimed at the operation of existing projects in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Americas and the Asia-Pacific regions to endeavor to maintain good quality development and high profitability.

Refining and Chemicals

Our capital expenditures for our refining and chemicals segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB17,859 million, RMB15,419 million and RMB21,279 million, respectively. In

 

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2019, our capital expenditures were mainly spent on the construction of large-scale refining and chemicals facilities, including projects such as the refining-chemical integration project at Guangdong Petrochemical, the project in relation to adjustment of product structure at Daqing Petrochemical, the large-scale refining-chemical projects of producing ethylene out of ethane in Changqing and Tarim, and certain other oil product quality upgrading projects.

Our capital expenditures for the refining and chemicals segment in 2020 are expected to be used primarily for the refining-chemical integration project at Guangdong Petrochemical, the Jieyang ABS project of Jilin Petrochemical, project in relation to adjustment of product structure at Daqing Petrochemical, the large-scale refining-chemical projects of producing ethylene out of ethane in Changqing and Tarim, and certain refining-chemical transformation and upgrading projects.

Marketing

Our capital expenditures for our marketing segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB10,982 million, RMB17,010 million and RMB17,618 million, respectively. Our capital expenditures for the marketing segment in 2019 were mainly used for the construction and expansion of refined oil sales networks, engineering works for safety and environmental protection such as anti-seepage renovation of service stations, and construction of overseas facilities for storage, transmission and sale of oil and gas.

Our capital expenditures for our marketing segment for the year of 2020 are expected to be used primarily for the construction and expansion of refined oil sales networks and the construction of the overseas oil and gas centers storage and transmission facilities.

Natural Gas and Pipeline

Our capital expenditures for the natural gas and pipeline segment for each of the three years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB24,529 million, RMB26,502 million and RMB27,004 million, respectively. Our capital expenditures for the natural gas and pipeline segment in 2019 were mainly used for construction projects of important natural gas trunk lines such as the China-Russia East Natural Gas Pipeline and the Fujian-Guangdong branch line of the Third West-East Gas Pipeline, LNG storage and transmission facilities for peak regulation, interconnection lines, branch lines and sales terminals.

Our capital expenditures for the natural gas and pipeline segment in 2020 are expected to be used primarily for the construction of key natural gas trunk line projects such as the China-Russia East Natural Gas Pipeline, the Shenzhen LNG storage and transmission project for peak regulation, the natural gas interconnection projects, as well as the construction of gas branches and sales terminals.

Headquarters and Others

Our non-segment capital expenditures and investments for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB1,014 million, RMB1,066 million and RMB758 million, respectively, which were primarily used for setting up the research test platform and development of our IT system.

Our capital expenditures for the headquarters and others in 2020 are expected to be used for improvement of the scientific research facilities and development of our IT system.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2019, there were no off-balance sheet arrangements that had or were reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

 

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Long-Term Contractual Obligations and Other

Commercial Commitments and Payment Obligations

All information that is not historical in nature disclosed under “Item 5 — Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — Long-Term Contractual Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments and Payment Obligations” is deemed to be a forward looking statement. See “Forward-Looking Statements” for additional information.

The tables below set forth our long-term contractual obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2019.

 

     Payment Due by Period  

Contractual Obligations

   Total      Less Than
1 Year
     1-3 Years      3-5 Years      After
5 Years
 
     (RMB in millions)  

Long-term debt

     376,225        85,343        180,489        81,979        28,414  

Lease obligations

     276,154        14,304        26,546        24,554        210,750  

Capital commitments

     56,856        15,017        41,803        36        —    

Debt-related interest

     37,634        12,931        16,214        5,310        3,179  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     746,869        127,595        265,052        111,879        242,343  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We are obligated to make annual payment with respect to our exploration and production licenses to the Ministry of Natural Resources. The table below sets forth the estimated amount of the annual payments in the next five years:

 

Year

   Annual Payment  
     (RMB in millions)  

2020

     800  

2021

     800  

2022

     800  

2023

     800  

2024

     800  

Assets Retirement Obligation

Most of the provinces and regions in which our oil and gas exploration and production activities are located have promulgated environmental protection regulations, which set forth specific abandonment and disposal processes for oil and gas exploration and production activities. We have established standard abandonment procedures, including plugging all retired wells, dismantling all retired metering stations and other related facilities and performing site restoration, in response to the issuance of these provincial and regional regulations. As of December 31, 2019, the balance of assets retirement obligation was RMB137,935 million.

Research and Development

We have a research and development management department, directly under which there are three research institutions. Except for our branch companies which are engaged in marketing activities, each of our branch companies has its own research and development management department. Most of our branch companies have their own research institutions. Our research and development management departments are mainly responsible for managing and coordinating the research and development activities conducted by each of the research institutions. As of December 31, 2019, we had 39,377 employees in our research and development departments and institutions.

 

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In each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, our total expenditures for research and development (including capitalized expenditures) were approximately RMB 18,601 million, RMB21,045 million and RMB21,410 million, respectively.

Exploration and Production

Most of China’s major oil and gas fields are characterized by a broad range of geological conditions, and a majority of China’s oil and gas fields are in continental sedimentary basins with complex structures. Our research and development efforts with respect to our exploration and production business focus on:

 

   

theories and technologies of crude oil and natural gas exploration;

 

   

oil and gas development theories and technologies;

 

   

engineering technologies and equipment;

 

   

theories and technologies for oil and gas storage and transportation; and

 

   

technologies for security, energy conservation and environmental protection.

Refining and Chemicals

Currently, our research and development efforts in the refining and chemicals segment are focusing on the following areas:

 

   

technologies for clean refined oil products;

 

   

technologies for unqualified heavy oil processing;

 

   

refining-chemical integration technologies;

 

   

technologies for production of olefin aromatics;

 

   

technologies for new products of synthetic resin and synthetic rubber;

 

   

new catalyst and catalytic materials; and

 

   

technologies for safety, energy saving and environmental protection.

Trend Information

In 2020, the global economy is still running the risk of moving downhill because of, among other things, geopolitical tension, uncertainty of international trade situation, climate change and the spread of COVID-19 in various countries around the world. As supply and demand in the global oil market eases, international oil prices are expected to be maintained in the lower range, though likely to take a further downturn. China is set to be affected by COVID-19 significantly in its economic operation, but the fundamental trend of steady improvement and long-term improvement is not expected to change. The Company will adhere to its resources, marketization, internationalization and innovation strategies, implement new concepts of development, pushing ahead quality-based development, endeavor to reform and undertake breakthrough innovations in key areas, build a solid base for business security and environmental protection, increase its attention on green and low-carbon development, digital transformation, intelligent development and value creation to comprehensively improve quality and profitability and endeavor to make substantial progress to enhance the capabilities of growth and value creation.

In respect of exploration and production, the Company expects to optimize the deployment of exploration and production, and further consolidate the resource base. The Company expects to continue to increase risk exploration, focusing on target areas such as ancient carbonate rocks, deep and ultra-deep reservoir, unconventional and greenfield target areas, emphasizing in-depth preliminary survey, striving to make technical developments, leading to strategic discoveries and breakthroughs. By targeting spacious basins and pits loaded with oil and gas, and strengthening concentrated exploration, refining exploration and efficient evaluation, the

 

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Company will endeavor to locate recoverable reserves that can be economically producible with scale. The Company will level up trials in oil and gas exploration with a view to profitable development, control the rate of diminishing productivity and increase the recovery ratio, maintaining the overall stability of crude oil production levels and the higher growth for natural gas.

In respect of refining and chemicals, the Company will focus on the high quality development by pushing ahead business restructuring and technical innovation to effect a conversion and upgrading of refining activities. Focusing on market demand, resources will be prioritized to more profitable companies and most efficient processing routes. We expect to also enhance benchmark management and cost control, continuously improving technical and economic performance indicators. According to the technical characteristics of each equipment, we expect to optimize the crude oil resource pool and reduce the cost of raw materials, enhance the competitiveness of our chemical business and vigorously develop high-end and special and precise chemical products with key projects being pushed ahead in a well-ordered manner.

In respect of marketing, the Company expects to strengthen its marketing capabilities, coordinate resource deployment, to endeavor to ensure adequate supply for upstream production and realize value along the crude oil industrial chain. With a view of being customer-focused and market-oriented, efforts will be focused on market expansion, increasing retail sales volume and enhancing profitability, as well as scientifically organizing well-informed management and implementing innovative marketing strategies and methods, pushing ahead integration of multiple modes of business operations online and offline, improving performance appraisal and incentive schemes to enhance sales and profitability. We will also level up development of high-quality marketing networks in strategic areas, steadily explore the construction and operation of comprehensive supply stations providing oil, gas, power and hydrogen at the same time, enhancing marketing through convenience stores and exploring innovative non-oil based business models and operation mechanisms.

In respect of natural gas and pipeline, the Company will coordinate resources both domestic and abroad, improve the multiple gas supply system, enhance management on the demand-side and set up a resource allocation mechanism matching demand in the market. We will promote interacting and interconnecting projects and make LNG terminals and gas tanks operate in a more efficient manner, strive hard to make up for deficiencies from gas storage peak shaving in a timely manner and, endeavor to ensure stable supply to the market and smooth operations of our business chains. We will endeavor to develop the city gas market by integration into the provincial pipeline network, and strive to develop the urban gas market. Active changes will be made to marketing methods and we will carry out a “tagging” sales strategy, increase deployment of resources in high-profitability market, accelerate the pace of marketization of gas prices and promote value-added services to effect growing sales and profitability. Construction of such major pipelines for the purpose of increasing interconnection as the middle part of China-Russia East Natural Gas Pipeline and middle part of Third West-East Gas Pipeline will be accelerated and pipeline security management will be upgraded continuously for safe operation.

In respect of international operations, the Company will focus on enhancing profitability, continuously optimizing overseas strategic deployment and asset structure, engaging international petroleum companies in strategic cooperation and taking further steps in developing new projects. We will strengthen onshore exploration, implement progressive high-efficiency exploration and promote deep-water exploration to maximize economically recoverable reservoirs. Existing projects will be operated with high quality. We will keep a close watch on changes in various risks and take effective measures for safe and smooth operations of overseas projects, enhancing the strength and capability of our international business.

Impact of COVID-19

Since January 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the Chinese and global economy, which has significantly impacted the Company. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many

 

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governments have adopted strict restrictions, including restrictions on international and local travel, public gatherings and participation in meetings, and the closure of schools, shops, restaurants, and some factories. Some countries have imposed strict curfews. As a result, the market demand for, and the prices of, the Company’s oil and gas products have declined. All of our business segments have been significantly affected, and we face heightened challenges in operation and management along the entire oil and gas industry chain. Please refer to “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to COVID-19”. The Company actively responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and set up a leading group for prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. The leading group has timely arranged various measures to protect employees’ health and safety, promote production and operation in a safe, stable and orderly manner. The Company will strive to broaden sources of income, reduce expenditure, cut costs, enhance efficiency, optimize debt repayment structure, actively promote price maximization, and accelerate the development of domestic natural gas business, and endeavor to minimize any loss arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and sustainably develop our business in the long run. As of the date of this report, there is still significant uncertainty about the short-term and long-term adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global and Chinese economy and financial markets, as such, we cannot accurately predict the short-term or long-term impact of the COVID-19 on us. We will closely monitor any developments and make timely adjustments to our business decisions accordingly.

Volatility of International Crude Oil Prices

Since the beginning of March 2020, the international crude oil price has fallen sharply due to a pessimistic outlook on the world economy affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and oversupply of crude oil in the global market. The decline in international crude oil prices is expected to greatly affect the Company’s upstream business profits and oil and gas import costs, and affect the Company’s downstream business profits through China’s pricing mechanism of refined oil, thereby adversely affecting the Company’s overall sales revenue and profits. We are actively responding to the risk of crude oil price volatility, and strive to maintain stable and healthy development of production and operation. See “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Pricing and Exchange Rate”.

Short-Term Readjustment of Natural Gas Price

On February 22, 2020, the NDRC issued the Notice on Interim Reduction of Gas Cost for Non-resident Use to Support Resumption of Work and Production (the “Notice”), pursuant to which, acting on the PRC government’s guideline in respect of proper coordination of anti-COVID-19 efforts as well as economic and social development, the cost of non-resident use of gas will be lowered in the short term. Starting from the date thereof to June 30, 2020, off-season price policies shall be implemented in advance for the city gate prices of natural gas for non-resident use, greater price discounts shall be provided to industries, such as chemical fertilizer producers, which are deeply affected by the COVID-19, and the end-user prices of natural gas shall be timely reduced. The sales revenue and profits of natural gas sales of our Company will be affected to certain extent. However, we will endeavor to optimize our production and operations and push ahead the sustainable development of high quality business.

The Chinese Government Further Liberalizes Oil and Gas Market Access

On June 30, 2019, the NDRC and the MOFCOM issued Special Management Measures for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List) (2019 Edition), pursuant to which, starting from the date thereof, the restrictions on oil and gas exploration and development being limited to joint ventures and cooperation will be lifted. On December 22, 2019, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued Opinions on Creating a Better Development Environment to Support the Reform and Development of Private Enterprises (“Opinion”). This Opinion intends to further liberalize market access for private enterprises. It aims to liberalize competitive businesses and further introduce market competition mechanisms in the key industries and fields such as power, telecommunications, railways, oil and natural gas, to support private enterprises to enter the fields of oil and gas exploration and development, refining and sales, and to build

 

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infrastructure such as storage, transportation and pipeline transportation of crude oil, natural gas and refined oil, and to support qualified enterprises to participate in crude oil imports and refined oil exports. These policy changes will intensify competition in the oil and gas industry in the long run, and may adversely affect our business development and operating results.

Reform of the Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Operation Mechanism

On March 19, 2019, the PRC government passed the Opinions on Implementation of the Reform of the Operation Mechanism of Oil and Gas Pipeline Network (the “Opinion”). According to the Opinion, the PRC government will carry out reforms of the oil and gas pipeline operation mechanism. An oil and gas pipeline network operator will be established, which will have diversified investors with state-owned capital holding the majority stake. The Opinion states that the PRC government will form an oil and gas market system with multi-channel suppliers in the upstream, an integrated pipeline network with high efficiency in the middle-stream, and a fully competitive market in the downstream, to improve the efficiency of oil and gas resource allocation. On May 24, 2019, a number of Chinese government agencies jointly issued the Regulations on the Fair Opening of Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Facilities, pursuant to which, from May 24, 2019, oil and gas pipeline network operators shall provide non-discriminatory services of oil and gas transportation, storage, gasification, loading and unloading, transshipment to users who meet the accessing conditions; without proper reasons, they must not delay, refuse to sign service contracts with users who meet the accessing conditions, and must not make unreasonable requirements. On December 9, 2019, the PRC government established the National Pipeline Network Company. The National Pipeline Network Company is in discussions with the Company regarding a possible acquisition of certain pipeline assets from the Company. As at the date of this report, no definitive agreement has been reached. For this potential transaction, the Company will continue to adhere to the principles of fairness, equality and marketization in order to serve the interests of the shareholders of the Company as a whole. However, there is no assurance that the definitive agreement, if any, will not bring any adverse effect on the development of our natural gas and pipeline business and our operation results. Please refer to “Item 3 — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Government Regulation”.

Other than as disclosed above and elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the periods covered in this annual report that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our net revenue, profit, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial information to be misleading.

Other Information

Inflation

Inflation or deflation did not have a significant impact on our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Related Party Transactions

For a discussion of related party transactions, see “Item 7 — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions” and Note 37 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

Recent Developments in IFRS

For a detailed discussion of recent developments in IFRS, see Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Item 6 — DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

Directors, Senior Management and Supervisors

As of the date of this report, our board of directors consists of 11 directors, five of whom are independent non-executive directors. Directors are elected at shareholder meetings for three-year term. The directors may be re-elected and re-appointed upon the expiration of his/her term of office. The functions and duties conferred on the board of directors include:

 

   

convening shareholders’ meetings and reporting its work to the shareholders’ meeting;

 

   

implementing the resolutions of the shareholders’ meeting;

 

   

determining our business plans and investment programs;

 

   

formulating our annual budget and final accounts;

 

   

formulating our profit distribution and loss recovery proposals;

 

   

formulating proposals for the increase or reduction of our registered capital and the issuance of our debentures or other securities and listings;

 

   

proposing to redeem shares, merge, spin-off, dissolve or otherwise change the form of the company;

 

   

deciding on our internal management structure;

 

   

appointing or dismissing the president of the company, and upon the nomination of the president, appointing or dismissing the senior vice president, vice president, chief financial officer and other senior management, and determining matters relating to their remuneration;

 

   

formulating our basic management system;

 

   

preparing amendments to our articles of association;

 

   

managing the information disclosures of our company; and

 

   

exercising any other powers and duties conferred by the shareholders at general meetings.

Six of the directors are affiliated with CNPC or its subsidiaries.

The PRC Company Law requires a joint stock company with limited liability to establish a supervisory committee. This requirement is reflected in our articles of association. The supervisory committee is responsible for monitoring our financial matters and overseeing the corporate actions of our board of directors and our senior management personnel. As of the date of this report, the supervisory committee consists of nine supervisors, five of whom were elected, and may be removed, by the shareholders in a general meeting, and four of whom are employees representatives who were elected by our staff, and may be removed, by our staff. The term of office of our supervisors is three years. The supervisors may be re-elected and re-appointed. A supervisor cannot concurrently hold the position of a director, president, senior vice president, vice president or chief financial officer in our company.

The supervisory committee shall be responsible to the shareholders’ meeting and shall exercise the following functions and powers in accordance with law:

 

   

to review the periodic reports prepared by the board of directors and issue written opinions in connection with such review;

 

   

to review our financial condition;

 

   

to oversee the performance of duties by the directors, the president, senior vice presidents, vice presidents, the chief financial officer and other senior officers of the company and to propose the removal of any of the foregoing persons who acts in contravention of any law, regulation, the company’s articles of association or any resolutions of the shareholders’ meeting;

 

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to demand any director, the president, senior vice president, vice president, the chief financial officer or any other senior officer who acts in a manner which is harmful to the company’s interest to rectify such behavior;

 

   

to check the financial information such as the financial report, business report and plans for distribution of profits to be submitted by the board of directors at the shareholders’ meetings and to authorize, in the company’s name, publicly certified and practicing auditors to assist in the re-examination of such information should any doubt arise in respect thereof;

 

   

to propose the convening of an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, and convene and preside over a shareholders’ meeting when the board fails to perform its duties to do so as set forth in the PRC Company Law;

 

   

to submit proposals at the shareholders’ meetings;

 

   

to confer with any director, or initiate legal proceedings on behalf of the company against any director, the president, senior vice president, vice president, the chief financial officer or any other senior officer in accordance with Article 152 of the PRC Company Law;

 

   

to initiate investigations upon being aware of any extraordinary development in the operational conditions of the company;

 

   

together with the audit committee of the board of directors, to review the performance of the outside auditors on a yearly basis, and to propose the engagement, renewal of engagement and termination of engagement of the outside auditors, as well as the service fees with respect to the audit services;

 

   

to oversee the compliance of related party transactions; and

 

   

other functions and powers as set forth in the articles of association of the company.

Supervisors shall attend meetings of the board of directors as observers.

In the event that any action of our directors adversely affects our interests, supervisors shall confer with or initiate legal proceedings against such directors on our behalf. A resolution proposed at any meeting of the supervisory committee shall be adopted only if it is approved by two-thirds or more of our supervisors.

Our senior management is appointed by and serves at the supervision of our board of directors. The board of directors will review, evaluate and supervise the performance of the management and reward or punish the members of the management in accordance with relevant rules and regulations.

 

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The following table sets forth certain information concerning our directors, supervisors and executive officers as of the date of this report:

 

Name(1)

   Age     

Position

   Time of
Election(2)

Dai Houliang

     56      Chairman of the Board of Directors    March 2020

Li Fanrong

     56      Vice Chairman and Non-executive Director    March 2020

Liu Yuezhen

     58      Non-executive Director    May 2014

Lv Bo

     57      Non-executive Director    March 2020

Jiao Fangzheng

     57      Non-executive Director    June 2019

Duan Liangwei

     52      Executive Director and President    June 2017

Lin Boqiang

     62      Independent Non-executive Director    May 2014

Zhang Biyi

     66      Independent Non-executive Director    October 2014

Elsie Leung Oi-sie

     80      Independent Non-executive Director    June 2017

Tokuchi Tatsuhito

     67      Independent Non-executive Director    June 2017

Simon Henry

     58      Independent Non-executive Director    June 2017

Xu Wenrong

     58      Chairman of the Supervisory Committee   

Zhang Fengshan

     58      Supervisor   

Jiang Lifu

     56      Supervisor   

Lu Yaozhong

     54      Supervisor   

Wang Liang

     57      Supervisor   

Fu Suotang

     57      Supervisor appointed by employees’ representatives   

Li Jiamin

     56      Supervisor appointed by employees’ representatives   

Liu Xianhua

     56      Supervisor appointed by employees’ representatives   

Li Wendong

     55      Supervisor appointed by employees’ representatives   

Sun Longde

     57      Vice President   

Wu Enlai

     59      Secretary to the Board of Directors   

Li Luguang

     57      Vice President   

Tian Jinghui

     57      Vice President   

Chai Shouping

     58      Chief Financial Officer   

Ling Xiao

     56      Vice President   

Yang Jigang

     56      Vice President   

 

(1)

The following changes have taken place to our board of directors, supervisors and senior management since our last annual report:

On June 13, 2019, Mr. Zhang Wei was appointed as a non-executive director and the vice chairman of the Company, and the chairman of the investment and development committee of the Company; and Mr. Jiao Fangzheng was appointed as a non-executive director of the Company and a member of the health, safety and environment committee of the Company.

On December 3, 2019, Mr. Liu Hongbin ceased being a director of the Company and a member of the investment and development committee of the Company due to work adjustment.

On December 9, 2019, Mr. Zhang Wei resigned from the position as a non-executive director and the vice chairman of the Company, and ceased being the chairman of the investment and development committee of the Company due to work adjustment; and Mr. Hou Qijun resigned from the position as the executive director and president of the Company and the position as a member of the performance review and

 

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compensation committee, and ceased being as a member of the health, safety and environment committee of the Company.

On January 19, 2020, Mr. Wang Yilin stepped down from the position as the chairman of the Company, and ceased being the chairman of the nomination committee of the Company due to his age.

On March 9, 2020, Mr. Duan Liangwei was appointed as the president of the Company.

On March 25, 2020, Mr. Dai Houliang was elected as a director of the Company and the chairman of the nomination committee of the Company; Mr. Li Fanrong was elected as the vice chairman of the Company and the chairman of the investment and development committee of the Company; and Mr. Lv Bo was elected as a non-executive director of the Company and a member of the health, safety and environment committee of the Company.

On April 3, 2020, Mr. Wang Zhongcai stepped down from his position as a vice president of the Company due to his age.

 

(2)

For directors only.

Directors

Dai Houliang, age 56, is the chairman of our company, and concurrently the chairman, and the secretary of the CPC Leadership Group, of CNPC. Mr. Dai is a professor-level senior engineer with a doctorate degree, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and has extensive working experience in China’s petroleum and petrochemical industry. In December 1997, he was appointed as vice president of Yangzi Petrochemical Corporation, and as a director and vice president of Yangzi Petrochemical Co., Ltd. in April 1998. In July 2002, he was appointed as the vice chairman, president, and a member of the standing committee of the CPC Committee, of Yangzi Petrochemical Co., Ltd., and a director of Yangzi Petrochemical Corporation. From December 2003, he served as the chairman, president, and a member of the standing committee of the CPC Committee, of Yangzi Petrochemical Co., Ltd. and concurrently as the chairman of Yangzi Petrochemical Corporation, and from November 2004 concurrently as the chairman of BASF-YPC Company Limited. From September 2005, he served as the deputy chief financial officer of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (“Sinopec”), and from November 2005 as a vice president and deputy chief financial officer of Sinopec, and from May 2006 as a director, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Sinopec. In June 2008, he was appointed as a member of the CPC Committee of China Petrochemical Corporation (“Sinopec Group”). From May 2016, he served as the president, a director, and the deputy secretary of the CPC Leadership Group, of Sinopec Group, and from August 2016 concurrently as the vice chairman and president of Sinopec, and from May 2018 concurrently as the chairman and the president of Sinopec. In July 2018, he was appointed as the chairman, and the secretary of the CPC Committee, of Sinopec Group. Mr. Dai has served as the chairman, and the secretary of the CPC Committee, of CNPC since January 2020, and concurrently as the chairman of our company since March 2020.

Li Fanrong, age 56, is the vice chairman of our company, and concurrently a director, president, and deputy secretary of the CPC Leadership Group, of CNPC. He is a professor-level senior engineer with a master’s degree and has extensive working experience in China’s oil and gas industry. He was appointed as a vice president of CNOOC China Limited Shenzhen Branch Company in January 2002 and the general manager of the Development & Production Department of CNOOC Limited in November 2005. He was appointed as the president, and secretary of the CPC Committee, of CNOOC China Limited Shenzhen Branch in February 2007. From January 2009, he served as the assistant president, a member of Management Committee, of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (“CNOOC”) and the president in CNOOC Energy Technology & Services Limited, and from January 2010 concurrently as the chairman of CNOOC Infrastructure Management Co., Ltd. He served as a vice president, and member of the CPC Leadership Group, of CNOOC from April 2010, concurrently as the president of CNOOC Limited and the chairman of CNOOC Southeast Asia Limited from September 2010, concurrently as the chief executive officer and president of CNOOC Limited from November

 

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2011, concurrently as the chairman of Nexen Energy ULC from February 2013, and concurrently as the chairman of CNOOC International Limited from May 2015. He worked as a deputy director, and a member of the CPC Leadership Group, of National Energy Administration from May 2016. Mr. Li has been a director, the president, and a deputy secretary of the CPC Leadership Group, of CNPC since February 2020, and concurrently the vice chairman of our company since March 2020.

Liu Yuezhen, age 58, is a director of our company, and concurrently the chief accountant, and a member of the CPC Leadership Group, of CNPC. Mr. Liu is a researcher-level senior accountant, holds a master’s degree and has extensive financial and accounting experience. He served as deputy general manager and chief accountant of AVIC Jianghan Aviation Life-saving Appliance Corporation since March 1996. In February 2000, he was promoted to general manager of Jianghan Aviation Life-saving Appliance Corporation and concurrently served as the director of the 610 Research Institute. Mr. Liu served as the chairman of the board of directors and general manager of AVIC Beijing Qingyun Aviation Instruments Co., Ltd. from May 2003 and as the chief accountant, and a member of the CPC Leadership Group, of CASIC (Group) Company from November 2006. He served as the chief accountant, and a member of the CPC Leadership Group, of CASIC (Group) Company from December 2007. Mr. Liu has been the chief accountant, and a member of the CPC Leadership Group, of CNPC since December 2013. Mr. Liu was appointed as a director of our company in May 2014.

Lv Bo, age 57, is a director of our company, and concurrently a vice president and, a member of the CPC Committee, of CNPC. Mr. Lv is a senior economist with a master’s degree and has extensive working experience in China’s oil and gas industry. In January 2002, Mr. Lv was appointed as director-general of Human Resources Department of CNOOC. He was appointed as the Assistant President of CNOOC in November 2006 and a member of the CPC Leadership Group of CNOOC in November 2007, and concurrently as the secretary of the CPC Committee of CNOOC as a unit directly under the CPC Central Committee in October 2008. From April 2010, he served as a vice president, and a member of the CPC Committee, of CNOOC, and from December 2012 concurrently as the chairman of CNOOC Energy Technology & Services Limited, from May 2015 concurrently as the president of CNOOC Party School, and from December 2016 concurrently as the chairman of Offshore Oil Engineering Co. Ltd. and China Oilfield Services Limited. Mr. Lv has been a vice president, and a member of the CPC Leadership Group, of CNPC since November 2019. He was appointed as a director of our company in March 2020.

Jiao Fangzheng, age 57, is a director of our company, and concurrently a vice president, and a member of the CPC Leadership Group, of CNPC. Mr. Jiao is a professor-level senior engineer, holds a doctorate degree, and has extensive working experience in China’s petroleum and petrochemical industry. Mr. Jiao served as the chief geologist in Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Administration of Sinopec Group from January 1999, as the deputy manager and chief geologist of Sinopec Zhongyuan Oilfield Company, a branch of Sinopec from February 2000, as the deputy director general, and a member of the CPC Committee, of Sinopec Petroleum Exploration & Development Research Institute from July 2000, the deputy director general of Exploration & Production Department from March 2001, as the director general, and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee, of Northwest Petroleum Administration of Sinopec Group and as the general manager of Sinopec Northwest Oilfield Company from June 2004. He served as a vice president of Sinopec from October 2006, concurrently as the director general of Sinopec Petroleum Exploration & Production Department from July 2010, as the deputy general manager, and a member of the CPC Leadership Group, of Sinopec Group from July 2014, concurrently as the chairman of Sinopec Oilfield Service Corporation from September 2014, and concurrently as a director and a senior vice president of Sinopec from May 2015. Mr. Jiao has been a vice president, and a member of the CPC Leadership Group, of CNPC since June 2018. In June 2019, Mr. Jiao was appointed as a non-executive director of our company.

Duan Liangwei, age 52, is a director and the president of our company, and concurrently a deputy general manager, the chief safety officer, and a member of the CPC Leadership Group, of CNPC. Mr. Duan is a professor-level senior engineer and holds a doctorate degree. He has extensive work experience in China’s petrochemical industry. From February 2006, Mr. Duan served as a deputy general manager, the chief safety

 

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officer, and a member of the CPC Committee, of Jilin Petrochemical Company. From March 2010, he served concurrently as the general manager of Jilin Fuel Ethanol Company Limited. From September 2011, he served as the general manager of Dagang Petrochemical Company. From July 2013, he served as the general manager, and the deputy secretary of the CPC Committee, of PetroChina Dalian Petrochemical Company, the manager of Dalian Petrochemical Corporation, and the director of Dalian Regional Companies Coordination Group. He was appointed as a deputy general manager of CNPC in March 2017. Mr. Duan has served concurrently as the chief safety director of CNPC since April 2017. Mr. Duan was appointed as a director of our company in June 2017 and the president of our company in March 2020.

Independent Non-executive Directors

Lin Boqiang, age 62, is an independent non-executive director of our company. Mr. Lin holds a doctorate degree in economics from the University of California. He was formerly a senior energy economist at the Asian Development Bank, and is currently working at Xiamen University in such capacity as a Distinguished Professor of the Changjiang Scholars Program at the School of Management, the director of Research Institute for China’s Energy Policy, the director of 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center for Energy Economics and Energy Policy, and a doctoral advisor. Mr. Lin is a member of the National Energy Consultation Committee under the National Energy Commission, a member of the Energy Price Consultation Committee under the National Development and Reform Commission, a guest economic analyst of Xinhua News Agency, a guest commentator of China National Radio, the vice-chairman of China Energy Society, and a member of the Board of Stewards of Future of Energy of the World Economic Forum based in Davos Switzerland. Mr. Lin was elected as an independent non-executive director of our company in May 2014.

Zhang Biyi, age 66, is an independent non-executive director of our company. Mr. Zhang is a senior accountant. He graduated from the department of finance and banking from Xiamen University in February 1982. He served as the head of the Enterprise Division, assistant to the director, and deputy director of the Finance Bureau at China Ship Industry Corporation. In July 1999, Mr. Zhang was appointed as a deputy general manager of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and he served as deputy general manager and chief accountant of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation from December 2004 to February 2014. From March 2008 to January 2010, he also served concurrently as the general manager of China Shipbuilding Industry Company Ltd. Mr. Zhang was elected as an independent non-executive director of our company in October 2014.

Elsie Leung Oi-sie, age 80, is an independent non-executive director of our company. She is a consultant of Iu, Lai & Li Solicitors & Notaries, and an independent non-executive director of China Life Insurance Company Limited, United Company RUSAL, Plc. and China Resources Power Holdings Co., Ltd. Ms. Leung obtained her LLM degree from the University of Hong Kong, and is an academician of College of International Marriage Law. She holds the practicing qualifications for attorney of Hong Kong and Britain. Ms. Leung was the first Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, a member of Executive Council of HKSAR and the Deputy Director of Hong Kong Basic Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the PRC. Ms. Leung was appointed as the Justice of the Peace, the Notary Public, and the China-Appointed Attesting Officer, and was awarded a Grand Bauhinia Medal. Ms. Leung was appointed as an independent non-executive director of our company in June 2017.

Tokuchi Tatsuhito, age 67, is an independent non-executive director of our company. He is also the executive director & research fellow of the Center for Industrial Development and Environment Governance (CIDEG), Tsinghua University, the senior fellow of Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, and the member & experts adviser to the Foreign Advisory Committee of State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of the PRC. Mr. Tokuchi graduated from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Peking University, and received his master’s degree in East Asian Economy from the Center for East Asian Studies of Stanford University. He previously held such positions as the general manager of Investment Banking Division of Daiwa Securities SMBC Co., Ltd., the president of Daiwa Securities Singapore Limited, the Executive Vice President of Daiwa Securities (Hong Kong) Inc.in charge of investment banking business, a vice president of Daiwa

 

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Securities (America) Inc., the vice chairman of Singapore Investment Banking Association, and a deputy general manager, managing director, general manager, and Investment Banking Committee chairman of CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. In 2009, Mr. Tokuchi was awarded the China Friendship Award, China’s highest award for foreigners. Mr. Tokuchi was appointed as an independent non-executive director of our company in June 2017.

Simon Henry, age 58, is an independent non-executive director of the Company and also a fellow of the UK Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, has experience in areas of finance management, strategic planning, marketing and investor relations. Mr. Simon Henry obtained a first class Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Cambridge University in 1982 and was awarded a Master’s degree in 1986 from Cambridge. He joined Royal Dutch Shell in 1982. He worked for 8 years until March 2017 as the chief financial officer and executive director of the board of Royal Dutch Shell. He now serves as a non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee of the board of Lloyds Banking Group and a non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee of the board of Rio Tinto plc. He also serves as a member of the Defense Board for the UK Government, and chairs the Defense Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. Mr. Simon Henry was appointed as an independent non-executive director of our company in June 2017.

Supervisors

Xu Wenrong, age 58, is the chairman of the supervisory committee of our company, and concurrently a deputy secretary of the CPC Leadership Group and deputy general manager of CNPC. Mr. Xu is a professor-level senior engineer and holds a doctorate degree. Mr. Xu has extensive work experience in China’s oil and gas industry. Mr. Xu served as a deputy director of Bureau of Geophysical Prospecting of CNPC from November 1997, the director and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of the Bureau of Geophysical Prospecting of CNPC from December 1999, and the vice chairman of the board of directors, general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of BGP Inc. from December 2002. He was appointed as an assistant president of CNPC in January 2004, and from September 2005 Mr. Xu concurrently served as the director general of the Development and Research Department of CNPC, and the chairman of CNPC Services & Engineering Ltd from June 2006. He served as a member of the CPC Leadership Group and chief of the Discipline Inspection Group of China Shipping (Group) Company from May 2011. He was appointed as a director of China Shipping (Group) Company in October 2011. He served concurrently as the principal of China Shipping Party School from December 2011, and the chairman of the Labor Union of China Shipping (Group) Company from January 2012. He served concurrently as the president of China Shipping Management Cadre College from May 2013. He was appointed as a deputy general manager, a member of the CPC Leadership Group and chief of Discipline Inspection Group of China Shipping (Group) Company in February 2014. He served as a deputy general manager and member of the CPC Leadership Group of CNPC from January 2016. He was appointed as a deputy secretary of the CPC Leadership Group and deputy general manager of CNPC in November 2016. He was appointed as a director of our company in May 2016. Mr. Xu was appointed as a member and the chairman of the supervisory committee of our company in June 2017.

Zhang Fengshan, age 58, is a supervisor and the chief safety officer of our company and the general manager of our Quality, Security and Environmental Protection Department. He is concurrently the deputy chief safety officer of CNPC, the general manager of Quality, Security and Environmental Protection Department of CNPC and the director of the Security, Environmental Protection Supervision Center of CNPC. Mr. Zhang is a professor-level senior engineer, holds a master’s degree and has extensive experience in China’s oil and gas industry. He was appointed as a deputy director and a standing member of the CPC Committee of Liaohe Oil Exploration Bureau in July 2000, the safety director of Liaohe Oil Exploration Bureau in May 2002, the director and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Liaohe Petroleum Exploration Bureau in August 2004 and in February 2008, the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Great Wall Drilling and Exploration Company Ltd., where he also served as an executive director from July 2008. Mr. Zhang has been the general manager of the Security, Environment, and Energy Conservation Department of our company and of CNPC since June 2012. In July 2014, Mr. Zhang was appointed as the chief safety officer of our company and the deputy chief safety officer of CNPC. In December 2015, Mr. Zhang was appointed as the director of the

 

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Security, Environmental Protection Supervision Center of CNPC. In December 2016, Mr. Zhang was appointed as the general manager of our Quality, Security and Environmental Protection Department and the general manager of the Quality, Security and Environmental Protection Department of CNPC. Mr. Zhang was appointed as a supervisor of our company in May 2014.

Jiang Lifu, age 56, is a supervisor of our company, the general manager of our Reform and Enterprise Management Department and concurrently the general manager of the Reform and Enterprise Management Department of CNPC. Mr. Jiang is a professor-level senior economist, holds a doctorate degree and has extensive work experience in China’s oil and gas industry. He was appointed as a deputy general manager of our Capital Operation Department in August 2003, a deputy director of CNPC’s Planning Department in May 2005, a deputy general manager of our Planning Department in June 2007 and a deputy director of CNPC’s Planning Department. Since April 2014, Mr. Jiang has been the general manager of the Enterprise Management Department of our company and the general manager of the Enterprise Management Department of CNPC. In April 2015, Mr. Jiang was appointed as the general manager of our Reform and Enterprise Management Department and the general manager of the Reform and Enterprise Management Department of CNPC. Mr. Jiang was elected as a supervisor of our company in October 2014.

Lu Yaozhong, age 54, is a supervisor of our company, the general manager of our Capital Operation Department, and concurrently the general manager of the Capital Operation Department of CNPC. Mr. Lu is a professor-level senior accountant and holds a master’s degree. He has extensive work experience in China’s oil and gas industry. He served as the chief accountant and a member of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Kazakhstan Company from December 2009 and the chief accountant of Overseas Exploration and Development Branch Company of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation from August 2013. Mr. Lu has served as the general manager of the Capital Operation Department of our company and concurrently the general manager of the Capital Operation Department of CNPC since April 2017. Mr. Lu was appointed as a supervisor of our company in June 2017.

Wang Liang, age 57, is a supervisor of our company, the general manager of our Audit Department, and concurrently the general manager of the Audit Department, and the director and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of the Audit Service Center of CNPC. Mr. Wang is a professor-level senior accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree. He has extensive work experience in China’s oil and gas industry. He served as a director, chief accountant and member of the CPC Committee of CNPC Offshore Engineering Company Limited from January 2005, a member of the CPC Leadership Group and deputy director of Liaoning Provincial Finance Department from April 2006, the chairman of the board of directors Generali China Insurance Co., Ltd. from April 2007, the chief accountant and a member of the CPC Committee of CNPC Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Company Limited from February 2008, the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of CNPC Assets Management Co., Ltd. from October 2009, the chairman of the board of directors, general manager, and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Kunlun Trust Co., Ltd. from March 2014, the chairman of the board of directors, secretary of the CPC Committee, secretary of the discipline inspection commission, and chairman of the Labor Union of CNPC Assets Management Co., Ltd. from July 2014, and the secretary of the CPC Committee, secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, chairman of the Labor Union and deputy general manager of China Petroleum Finance Co., Ltd. from July 2016. In May 2017, he was appointed as the general manager of our Audit Department, and concurrently the general manager of the Audit Department of CNPC, the director and secretary of the CPC Committee of the Audit Service Center of CNPC. In November 2017, he was appointed as the general manager of our Audit Department, the general manager of the Audit Department of CNPC, the director and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of the Audit Service Center of CNPC. Mr. Wang was appointed as a supervisor of our company in October 2017.

Fu Suotang, age 57, is an employee representative supervisor of our company. He is also the general manager and the secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, and the director and general manager of Changqing Petroleum Exploration Bureau. Mr. Fu is a professor-level senior engineer and holds a doctorate degree. He has extensive work experience in China’s oil and gas industry. He served as the

 

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chief geologist and member of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company from April 2007. He served as the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company and concurrently the director of Qinghai Petroleum Management Bureau from April 2014. In April 2017, he was appointed as the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company and concurrently the director of Changqing Petroleum Exploration Bureau. In April 2018, he was appointed the general manager and the secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, and concurrently the executive director and general manager of Changqing Oilfield Exploration Bureau. Mr. Fu was appointed as an employee representative supervisor of our company in June 2017.

Li Jiamin, age 56, is an employee representative supervisor of our company. He is also the general manager and the secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Lanzhou Petrochemical Company, and the executive director and general manager of Lanzhou Petroleum & Chemical Company. Mr. Li is a professor-level senior engineer and holds a master’s degree. He has extensive work experience in China’s oil and petrochemical industry. He was appointed as a deputy general manager, chief security officer and member of the CPC Committee of Lanzhou Petroleum & Chemical Company in August 2004. He was appointed as the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Lanzhou Petrochemical Company and the general manager Lanzhou Petroleum & Chemical Company in March 2012. In November 2017, he was appointed the general manager and the secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Lanzhou Petrochemical Company, and the executive director and general manager of Lanzhou Petroleum & Chemical Company. Mr. Li was appointed as an employee representative supervisor of our company in May 2014.

Liu Xianhua, age 56, is an employee representative supervisor of our company. He is also the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Liaoning Marketing Company and the executive director and general manager of CNPC Liaoning Petroleum Marketing Company. Mr. Liu is a professor-level senior economist and holds a master’s degree. He has extensive work experience in China’s oil and petrochemical industry. In May 2005, he was appointed as the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Shandong Marketing Company. In March 2012, he was appointed as the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Northeast Marketing Company. In December 2015, he was appointed as the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Liaoning Marketing Company, and the general manager of CNPC Liaoning Petroleum Corporation. In November 2017, he was appointed the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Liaoning Marketing Company and the executive director and general manager of CNPC Liaoning Petroleum Marketing Company. Mr. Liu was appointed as an employee representative supervisor of our company in May 2016.

Li Wendong, age 55, is an employee representative supervisor of our company. He is also the chairman, general manager and the secretary of the CPC Committee of Beijing Natural Gas Pipelines Company. Mr. Li is a professor-level senior engineer and holds a master’s degree. He has extensive work experience in China’s oil and gas industry. In January 2006, he was appointed as a deputy director and a member of the CPC Committee of China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau. In August 2011, he was appointed as the secretary of the CPC Committee, the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, the chairman of the Labor Union and deputy general manager of PetroChina West Pipelines Company. In November 2013, he was appointed as the general manager, the secretary of the CPC Committee, the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the chairman of the Labor Union of PetroChina West Pipeline Company, and the general manager of PetroChina West-East Natural Gas Sales Company. Since March 2016, he has served as the general manager and secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina West-East Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines Company, and the general manager of PetroChina West-East Natural Gas Sales Company. In April 2018, he was appointed as the general manager and the secretary of the CPC Committee of Beijing Natural Gas Pipelines Company. In October 2018, he was appointed as the chairman, general manager and the secretary of the CPC Committee of Beijing Natural Gas Pipelines Company. Mr. Li was appointed as an employee representative supervisor of our company in May 2016.

 

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Other Senior Management

Sun Longde, age 57, is a vice president of our company. He is also an executive director and the secretary of the CPC Committee of Daqing Oilfield Company Ltd., an executive director and the general manager of Daqing Petroleum Administration Bureau Co., Ltd. Mr. Sun is a professor-level senior engineer and holds a doctorate degree. He has extensive work experience in China’s oil and geological industry. He was appointed as the manager of Exploration & Development Company of the Shengli Petroleum Administration Bureau in September 1997, the chief geologist and a member of the CPC Committee of Tarim Petroleum Exploration & Development Headquarters in November 1997, a deputy general manager and a member of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Tarim Oilfield Company in September 1999, and the general manager and secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Tarim Oilfield Company in July 2002. He was elected as an academician to the Chinese Academy of Engineering in December 2011. In April 2014, Mr. Sun was appointed as the director of the consultancy center of CNPC. In July 2015, Mr. Sun was appointed as the general manager of our Science and Technology Management Company and the general manager of the Science and Technology Department of CNPC. He was appointed as an executive director and the general manager of Daqing Oilfield Company Ltd., the director of Daqing Petroleum Administration Bureau, and a deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Daqing Oilfield in March 2016. In October 2018, he was appointed as an executive director and the secretary of the CPC Committee of Daqing Oilfield Company Ltd., an executive director and the general manager of Daqing Petroleum Administration Bureau Co., Ltd. Mr. Sun was appointed as a vice president of our company in June 2007.

Li Luguang, age 57, is a vice president of our company, and the general manager and vice Party secretariat of our Exploration and Production Branch. Mr. Li is a professor-level senior engineer and holds a doctor degree. He has extensive working experience in China’s oil and gas industry. He served as the deputy general manager and Party member of Southwest Oil and Gas Field Branch from September 1999, the general manager and vice Party secretariat of Southwest Oil and Gas Field Branch from September 2003, the general manager and Party secretariat of Southwest Oil and Gas Field Branch from November 2005, assistant to the general manager of CNPC from April 2014, concurrently as the general manager and vice secretariat of the CPC Committee of Tarim Oilfield Branch from October 2016, and the general manager and secretariat of the CPC Committee of Tarim Oilfield Branch from April 2017, the general manager and vice Party secretariat of Exploration and Production Branch from April 2018. Mr. Li was appointed as a vice president of our company in June 2018.

Tian Jinghui, age 57, is a vice president of our company, and an executive director and secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina International Company Ltd., and the chairman of China National United Oil Corporation. Mr. Tian is a professor-level senior economist and holds a master’s degree. He has extensive experience in China’s oil and gas industry. In May 1998, he was appointed as the chief of the Preparatory Group of PetroChina Northwest Marketing Company. He was appointed as a deputy general manager and member of the CPC Committee of our Refining & Marketing Company from December 1999, a deputy general manager, chief safety officer and member of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Marketing Company from November 2007. In June 2009, he was appointed as the secretary of the CPC Committee and deputy general manager of PetroChina Marketing Company. In August 2013, he was appointed as the general manager and secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Marketing Company. In April 2017, Mr. Tian was appointed as the general manager and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina Marketing Company, an executive director of the board of directors and secretary of the CPC Committee of PetroChina International Company Ltd., and the chairman of China National United Oil Corporation. Mr. Tian was appointed as a vice president of our company in November 2015.

Chai Shouping, age 58, is the chief financial officer of our company. Mr. Chai is a professor-level senior accountant and holds a master’s degree. He has extensive work experience in financial operations and management in China’s oil and petrochemical industry. In April 2002, he was appointed as a deputy general manager of the Finance Department of our company. In September 2012, he was appointed as the chief accountant, and a member of the CPC Committee, of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development

 

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Corporation (overseas exploration and development branch), the deputy general manager and the chief financial officer of CNPC Exploration and Development Company Limited and the chief financial officer of PetroChina International Investment Company Limited. In March 2013, he was appointed as the general manager of the Finance Department of our company. Mr. Chai was appointed as the chief financial officer of our company in January 2017.

Ling Xiao, age 56, is a vice president of our company, the general manager, and secretary of the CPC Committee, of our Natural Gas Sales Company (PetroChina Natural Gas Pipelines Company), the chairman of the board of directors, and the secretary of the CPC Committee, of PetroChina Pipelines Co., Ltd., and the chairman of Kunlun Energy Co., Ltd. Mr. Ling is a professor-level senior engineer and holds a doctorate degree. He has extensive experience in China’s oil industry. He was appointed as a deputy director, and member of the CPC Committee, of Xinjiang Petroleum Administration Bureau in June 2001, the chairman of the board of directors and general manager of West Pipeline Co., Ltd. in August 2004, the secretary of the CPC Committee of West Pipeline Co., Ltd. in January 2015, the general manager, and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee, of PetroChina West Pipeline Company in March 2009, the general manager, and secretary of the CPC Committee, of West-East Gas Transmission Pipeline Company and concurrently the general manager of West-East Gas Transmission Sales Company in November 2013, the secretary of the CPC Committee and deputy general manager of PetroChina Natural Gas and Pipelines Company and concurrently the deputy general manager of our Natural Gas Sales Company in March 2016, the secretary of the CPC Committee and deputy general manager of our Natural Gas Sales Company (PetroChina Natural Gas and Pipelines Company) and general manager, and secretary of the CPC Committee, of PetroChina Pipelines Co., Ltd. in September 2016. Mr. Ling was appointed as the general manager, and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee, of our Natural Gas Sales Company (PetroChina Natural Gas and Pipelines Company), and the chairman of the board of directors, and secretary of the CPC Committee, of PetroChina Pipelines Co., Ltd. in November 2017, the secretary of the CPC Committee of the Natural Gas Sales Company in October 2018. Mr. Ling was appointed as a vice president of our company in December 2017.

Yang Jigang, age 56, is a vice president of our company, and the general manager, and the secretary of the CPC Committee, of our Refinery and Chemical Engineering Company. Mr. Yang is a professor-level senior engineer and holds a master’s degree. He has extensive experience in China’s petroleum and petrochemical industry. He was appointed as the deputy manager of Lanzhou Chemical Industry Corporation in August 1997, the chief engineer of the Oil Refinery and Chemical Engineering Department of CNPC in November 1998, a member of the preparatory group for the establishment of our Refining and Chemicals Marketing Company in September 1999, the chief engineer, and member of the CPC Committee, of our Refinery and Marketing Branch Company in December 1999, a deputy general manager, chief engineer, and member of the CPC Committee, of our Chemical Engineering and Marketing Company in August 2000, the general manager, and deputy secretary of the CPC Committee, of PetroChina Daqing Petrochemical Company in May 2005, the secretary of the CPC Committee and deputy general manager of our Refinery and Chemical Engineering Company in December 2009, and the general manager, and secretary of the CPC Committee, of our Refinery and Chemical Engineering Company in November 2017. Mr. Yang was appointed as a vice president of our company in December 2017.

Secretary to the Board of Directors

Wu Enlai, age 59, is the secretary to the board of directors of our company. He is a professor-level senior engineer and holds a master’s degree. Mr. Wu has extensive work experience in China’s oil and petrochemical industry. Mr. Wu was appointed as a deputy director general of Tarim Petrochemical Engineering Construction Headquarters in August 1997, a deputy director general of the Capital Operation Department of CNPC in August 2002 and a deputy general manager of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation in January 2004. He was appointed as the chief of the Preparatory Work Group for PetroChina Guangxi Petrochemical Company in May 2005, and the general manager, secretary of the CPC Committee, secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission and chairman of the Labor Union of PetroChina Guangxi Petrochemical Company in October 2005, and the head of the Enterprise Coordination Group of our company in Guangxi in

 

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September 2012. He was appointed as an executive director and the general manager of CNPC Hong Kong (Holding) Ltd. and a director and the chairman of Kunlun Energy Company Ltd. in December 2013. Since 2014, Mr. Wu has served as the vice director of the Council of China Association of Listed Companies. He was named a senior member of Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries in January 2018. Mr. Wu was appointed as the secretary to our board of directors in November 2013.

Compensation

The senior management members’ compensation has two components, namely, fixed salaries and variable compensation. The variable component, which accounts for approximately 75% of the total compensation package, is linked to the attainment of specific performance targets, such as our income for the year, return on capital and the individual performance evaluation results. All of our senior management members have entered into performance contracts with us.

Our directors and supervisors, who hold senior management positions or are otherwise employed by us and other senior management of our company receive compensation in the form of salaries, insurance and other benefits in kind, including our contribution to the pension plans for them.

The aggregate amount of salaries and other compensation, insurance and other benefits in kind paid by us to our directors, who hold senior management positions or are otherwise employed by us, during the year ended December 31, 2019 was RMB829 thousand which does not include the fees totaling RMB1,782 thousand paid to our independent directors. The aggregate amount of salaries or other compensation, insurance and other benefits in kind paid by us to our supervisors, who hold senior management position or are otherwise employed by us during the year ended December 31, 2019 was RMB3,687 thousand. The aggregate amount of salaries or other compensation, insurance and other benefits in kind paid by us to other senior management during the year ended December 31, 2019 was RMB6,744 thousand.

In 2019, we paid RMB1,796 thousand as our contribution to the pension plans for our directors and supervisors, who hold senior management positions or are otherwise employed by us and other senior management of our company.

Save as disclosed, no other payments have been paid or are payable, with respect to the year ended December 31, 2019, by us or any of our subsidiaries to our directors. In addition, we have no service contracts with our directors that provide for benefits to our directors upon the termination of their employment with us.

For discussions about the compensations of our individual directors and supervisors, please see Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

Board Practices

Our board of directors has five committees, namely, the nominating committee, the audit committee, the investment and development committee, the evaluation and remuneration committee and the health, safety and environment committee.

Nominating Committee

Our nominating committee is composed of Mr. Dai Houliang, as chairman of the committee, and Mr. Lin Boqiang and Mr. Zhang Biyi, as members. The nominating committee’s major responsibilities include:

 

   

reviewing and discussing the structure, size and composition of the board of directors regularly, and making recommendations on changes to the board to follow the company’s corporate strategy;

 

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considering the criteria and procedures for selection of directors, president and other senior management, and making recommendations to the board of directors;

 

   

considering the board diversity policy and the training systems for directors and management;

 

   

extensively selecting qualified candidates for directorship and members of senior management, reviewing the qualifications of candidates for directorship and president, and making recommendations;

 

   

reviewing the proposals on candidates nominated by the nominators who have the nominating rights under the Articles of Association;

 

   

reviewing and making assessment on the independence of independent non-executive directors; and

 

   

attending the shareholders’ meeting and answer the investor’s consultation on the work of the Nomination Committee, as well as the relevant laws, regulations, listing rules and other matters authorized by the board of directors.

Audit Committee

Our audit committee is composed of two non-executive independent directors, Mr. Lin Boqiang and Mr. Zhang Biyi, and one non-executive director, Mr. Liu Yuezhen. Mr. Lin Boqiang serves as the chairman of the committee. Under our audit committee charter, the chairman of the committee must be an independent director and all resolutions of the committee must be approved by independent directors. The audit committee’s major responsibilities include:

 

   

reviewing and supervising the engagement of external auditors and their performance;

 

   

reviewing and ensuring the completeness of annual reports, interim reports and quarterly reports, if any, and related financial statements and accounts, and reviewing any material opinion contained in the aforesaid statements and reports with respect to financial reporting;

 

   

reporting to the board of directors in writing on the financial reports of the company and related information, having considered the issues raised by external auditors;

 

   

reviewing and scrutinizing the work conducted by the internal audit department in according with the applicable PRC and international rules;

 

   

monitoring the financial reporting system and internal control procedures of the company, as well as checking and assessing matters relating to, among others, the financial operations, internal control and risk management of the company;

 

   

receiving, keeping and dealing with complaints or anonymous reports regarding accounting, internal accounting control or audit matters and ensuring the confidentiality of such complaints or reports;

 

   

reporting regularly to the board of directors with respect to any significant matters which may affect the financial position of the company and its operations and with respect to the self-evaluation of the committee on the performance of their duties; and

 

   

performing other responsibilities as may be required under relevant laws, regulations and the listing rules of the stock exchanges where the shares of the company are listed (as amended from time to time).

Investment and Development Committee

Our investment and development committee is composed of Mr. Li Fanrong, as chairman of the committee, and Mr. Duan Liangwei and Mr. Simon Henry, as members. The investment and development committee’s major responsibilities include:

 

 

studying the strategies of the company as proposed by our president and making recommendations to the board of directors;

 

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studying the annual investment budget and the adjustment proposal regarding the investment plan as proposed by our president and making recommendations to the board of directors; and

 

 

reviewing feasibility studies and preliminary feasibility studies for material investment projects subject to the approval of the board of directors and making recommendations to the board of directors.

Evaluation and Remuneration Committee

Our evaluation and remuneration committee is composed of Ms. Elsie Leung Oi-sie, as chairman of the committee, and Mr. Liu Yuezhen and Mr. Tokuchi Tatsuhito, as members. The evaluation and remuneration committee’s major responsibilities include:

 

 

studying the evaluation criteria for directors and senior officers, conducting the evaluations and proposing suggestions;

 

 

studying and evaluating the remuneration policies and plans for directors and senior officers (including the compensation in connection with the removal or retirement of the director and senior officers);

 

 

organizing the evaluation of the performance of our president and reporting the evaluation result to the board of directors, supervising the evaluation of the performance of our senior vice presidents, vice presidents, chief financial officer and other senior management members conducted under the leadership of the president;

 

 

studying our incentive plan and compensation plan, supervising and evaluating the implementation of these plans and making recommendations for improvements to and perfection of such plans; and

 

 

studying the relevant laws, regulations and the listing rules of the stock exchanges where the shares of the company are listed (as amended from time to time) and other matters authorized by the board of directors.

Health, Safety and Environment Committee

Our health, safety and environment committee is composed of Mr. Duan Liangwei, as chairman of the committee, and Mr. Lv Libo and Mr. Jiao Fangzheng, as members. The health, safety and environment committee’s major responsibilities include:

 

 

supervising the effective implementation of our Health, Safety and Environmental Protection Plan, or the HSE Plan;

 

 

making recommendations to the board of directors and our president regarding major decisions with respect to health, safety and environmental protection; and

 

 

inquiring about the occurrence of and determining the responsibilities for material accidents of the company, and examining and supervising the treatment of such accidents.

 

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Employees

As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, we had 494,297, 476,223 and 460,724 employees (not including the temporary employees), respectively. During 2019, we employed 274,174 temporary employees on an average. As of December 31, 2019, we had 272,006 temporary employees. The table below sets forth the number of our employees by business segment as of December 31, 2019.

 

     Employees      % of Total  

Exploration and production

     260,220        56.48  

Refining and chemicals

     133,735        29.03  

Marketing

     45,984        9.98  

Natural gas and pipeline

     15,273        3.31  

Headquarters and others(1)

     5,512        1.20  

Total

     460,724        100.00  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Including the numbers of employees of the management of our headquarters, specialized companies, PetroChina Exploration & Development Research Institute, PetroChina Planning & Engineering Institute, Petrochemical Research Institute and other units.

Our employees participate in various basic social insurance plans organized by municipal and provincial governments whereby we are required to make monthly contributions to these plans at certain rates of the employees’ salary as stipulated by relevant local regulations. Expenses incurred by us in connection with the retirement benefit plans were approximately RMB16,054 million, RMB19,432 million and RMB20,196 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

In 2019, we did not experience any strikes, work stoppages, labor disputes or actions that affected the operation of any of our businesses. Our company maintains good relationship with our employees.

Share Ownership

As of December 31, 2019 our directors, senior officers and supervisors did not have share ownership in us or any of our affiliates.

Item 7 — MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Major Shareholders

We were established on November 5, 1999 with CNPC as its sole promoter. As of March 31, 2020, CNPC beneficially owned 147,173,857,136 shares, which include 291,518,000 H Shares indirectly held by CNPC through Fairy King Investments Limited, an overseas wholly owned subsidiary of CNPC, representing approximately 80.41% of the share capital of us, and, accordingly, CNPC is our controlling shareholder.

The following table sets forth the major shareholders of our A shares as of March 31, 2020:

 

Name of Shareholders

   Class of
Shares
     Number of Shares
Held
     Percentage of Such
Share in That Class of the

Issued Shares Capital (%)
     Percentage of
the Total Share
Capital (%)
 

CNPC

     A shares        146,882,339,136        90.71        80.25  

 

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The following table sets forth the major shareholders of our H Shares as of March 31, 2020:

 

Name of Shareholders

  

Number of Shares Held

   Percentage of
Such Share in
That Class of the
Issued Shares
Capital (%)
     Percentage of
the Total
Share
Capital (%)
 

CNPC

   291,518,000 (long position )(1)      1.38        0.16  

BlackRock, Inc.(2)

   1,667,364,950 (long position)      7.90        0.91  
  

4,092,000 (short position)

     0.02        0.002  

Citigroup Inc.(3)

   1,157,880,903 (long position)      5.48        0.63  
  

99,469,917(short position)

     0.47        0.05  
  

1,016,840,761(lending pool)

     4.81        0.56  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.(4)

   1,125,790,043 (long position)      5.34        0.62  
  

256,618,527 (short position)

     1.22        0.14  
  

280,070,610 (lending pool)

     1.33        0.15  

 

(1)

Held by Fairy King Investments Limited, an overseas wholly-owned subsidiary of CNPC.

(2)

Blackrock, Inc., through various subsidiaries, had an interest in the H Shares of the Company, of which 1,667,364,950 H Shares (long position) and 4,092,000 H Shares (short position) were held in its capacity as interest of corporation controlled by the substantial shareholder.

(3)

Citigroup Inc., through various subsidiaries, had an interest in the H Shares of the Company, of which 3,448,800 H Shares (long position) were held in its capacity as holder of the guaranteed interest of shares, 137,591,342 H Shares (long position) and 99,469,917 H Shares (short position) were held in its capacity as interest of corporation controlled by the substantial shareholder, and 1,016,840,761 H Shares (long position) were held in its capacity as approved lending agent.

(4)

JPMorgan Chase & Co., through various subsidiaries, had an interest in the H Shares of the Company, of which 717,482,450 H Shares (long position) and 256,618,527 H Shares (short position) were held in its capacity as interest of corporation controlled by the substantial shareholder, 104,998,017 H Shares (long position) were held in its capacity as investment manager, 23,238,966 (long position) were held in its capacity as holder of the guaranteed interest of shares,280,070,610 H Shares (long position) were held in its capacity as approved lending agent.

Related Party Transactions

CNPC is a controlling shareholder of our company. We enter into extensive transactions with CNPC and other members of the CNPC group, all of which constitute related party transactions for us. We also continued to carry out existing continuing transactions with other related parties in the year ended December 31, 2019.

Continuing Related Party Transactions

Since 2000, our company has engaged a variety of continuing related party transactions with CNPC. CNPC provides various services to us and our company also provides specific products and services to CNPC. These transactions are governed by several agreements between CNPC and us, including the comprehensive products and services agreement, land lease, building lease, intellectual property licensing contracts and contract for the transfer of rights under production sharing contracts, as amended.

1. The comprehensive products and services agreement between CNPC and the Company

The comprehensive products and services agreement entered into between CNPC and us is updated every three years. The current comprehensive products and services agreement, or the new agreement, was signed on August 24, 2017, which covers the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020. In the new agreement, we added certain categories of products and services provided by our company to CNPC, and partially amended the

 

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pricing basis in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Other terms and conditions of the agreement remain unchanged. The new agreement was approved at the extraordinary general meeting held on October 26, 2017.

The products and services provided by CNPC to us include (a) engineering and technical services, mainly to be provided before the commercial operation of projects, including but not limited to, exploration technological services, downhole operational services, oilfield construction services, refinery construction services and engineering design services; (b) production services, mainly for our daily operations after the projects commence operations, including but not limited to crude oil, natural gas, refined products, chemical products, supply of water, power and gas, and communication services; (c) materials supply services, which are mainly intermediary services for the procurement of materials provided before and after the official commissioning are granted, including but not limited to purchase of materials, quality inspections, storage and transport of materials; (d) social and life services, including but not limited to security, education, hospitals, property management, staff canteens, training centers and hotels; and (e) financial services, including loans and other financial assistance, deposit services, entrusted loans, settlement services, financial leasing services and others.

The products and services provided by our company to CNPC and the companies jointly-held by CNPC and us include: (a) general products and services, including refined oil products, chemical products, natural gas, crude oil, supply of water, power and gas and heating, metering, and commissioned operations, supply of materials, other products and services that CNPC may request us to provide from time to time for itself to consume, use or sell; and (b) financial services provided by the company to jointly held companies, including provision of entrusted loans, guarantees and other financial services.

The general principle of the comprehensive agreement is that the products and services provided are in accordance with the needs of the recipients, and the prices are fair and reasonable. The terms and conditions are not inferior to those of independent third party providers. The pricing of the general agreement follows government pricing, market price, cost price, and agreement price, depending on the circumstances. The comprehensive agreement is not exclusive, and the parties may provide and purchase products and services from other third parties, but all parties are obliged to provide the products and services set forth in the comprehensive agreement and the provisions of the annual plan.

2. Land Use Right Lease

We entered into a land lease agreement with CNPC in March 2000, pursuant to which, CNPC leased to us land use right across China totaling approximately 1,145 million square meters, which were related to our various operations and businesses, for a term of 50 years. We may adjust the land use right area and the rent every three years based on our production and operating requirement and the market prices. In 2014, we and CNPC confirmed that since January 1, 2015, the total area of land use right leased by us was adjusted to 1,777.21 million square meters and the rent was adjusted to no more than RMB 4,831.21 million. On August 24, 2017, the parties signed a new confirmation letter, pursuant to which, since January 1, 2018, the total area of land was adjusted to 1,772.65 million square meters and the annual rent was adjusted to no more than RMB5,783 million. Other terms of the lease remain unchanged. The independent valuer, Savills Valuation and Professional Consultancy Co., Ltd., reviewed the confirmation letter and confirmed that the rent as adjusted is fair and reasonable, and such rent is not higher than the market level. The new confirmation letter of the land lease was approved at the extraordinary general meeting held on October 26, 2017.

3. Real Estate Lease

We entered into a real estate lease with CNPC in March 2000, which was amended in September 2002. Pursuant to the lease, CNPC leased 712,500 square meters of real estate across China to us for our business operations. Both parties agreed to adjust the number and rent of leased properties every three years based on the needs of production and operation or changes in the market price of real estate. According to the adjustment in

 

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2014, starting from January 1, 2015, we agreed to lease from CNPC a total of approximately 1,179,585.57 square meters of real estate for a total rent of approximately RMB707.71 million per year. Other terms of the lease remain unchanged. On August 24, 2017, we and CNPC signed a new real estate lease, effective January 1, 2018, for a term of 20 years. Pursuant to the new agreement, starting from January 1, 2018, the Company agreed to lease a total gross floor area of 1,152,968 square meters from CNPC, and agreed to pay a total annual rent of RMB730 million. The area and rent are to be adjusted every three years and the rent should not be higher than the fair market price. The independent valuer Savills Valuation & Professional Consultants Limited has reviewed the new real estate lease and confirmed that the adjusted rent is fair and reasonable and not higher than the market level. The new real estate lease was approved at the extraordinary general meeting held on October 26, 2017.

Loan and guarantee

As of December 31, 2019, we had unsecured short-term and long-term loans from CNPC and its affiliates in an aggregate amount of RMB237,631 million and with an average annual interest rate of 4.07%. The proceeds from the loans were basically used for our working capital. As of December 31, 2019, the total outstanding amount of our debts secured by CNPC and its subsidiaries was RMB22,313 million.

In 2019, we did not provide any guarantee to or for the benefit of CNPC and its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2019, the total outstanding guarantee we provided to or for the benefit of our subsidiaries, associates and affiliates other than CNPC and its subsidiaries was RMB196,661 million.

One-off Related Party Transactions

On June 13, 2019, our board of directors passed a resolution on increase in capital contribution to CNPC Finance Co., Ltd. (“CPF”) by CNPC, CNPC Capital Co., Ltd. (“CNPC Capital”) and us. CNPC, CNPC Capital and we currently hold 40%, 28% and 32% equity interests in CPF, respectively. After completion of this transaction, the registered capital of CPF will be increased from RMB8,331,250,000 to RMB20,000,000,000, including (i) RMB8,064,023,100 to be converted out of the capital reserves of CPF into its registered capital, (ii) an incremental capital of RMB14,000,000,000 in cash to be contributed by the shareholders proportionate to their existing shareholding ratios, which will include RMB3,604,726,900 to be recognized as registered capital and the rest to be recognized as capital reserves. After completion of the transaction, the shareholding ratios will remain unchanged. According to the arrangement, we will be required to contribute RMB4,480,000,000 in cash, which will be funded by our retained earnings. This transaction is subject to the approval of the relevant governmental agency.

We expect that this transaction will improve the return over our investment in CPF and it will provide us with a better position to access efficient funds and financial management services provided by CPF. We expect that this transaction will not affect the continuity of our business and the stability of our management.

In addition, during the reporting period, we had a number of other continuing related party transactions with certain companies such as CNPC Exploration and Development Company Limited. For a detailed discussion of our relationships and transactions with these parties, please refer to Note 37 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, “Item 7 — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions” in our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on May 27, 2008, and the 6-K filed with the SEC on August 28, 2014, August 24, 2017 and September 8, 2017, respectively.

The above-mentioned related-party transactions were within the upper limit of the amount of related party transactions as approved at the shareholders’ general meeting.

Interests of Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

 

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Item 8 — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Financial Statements

See pages F-1 to F-79 following Item 19.

Legal Proceedings

We are involved in several legal proceedings concerning matters arising in the ordinary course of our business. We believe, based on currently available information, that these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

Dividend Policy

Our Articles of Association provided that if our net profit attributable to owners of the Company and the accumulated undistributed profit for a year are positive, and our cash flow can satisfy our normal operation and sustainable development, the amount of cash dividend to be distributed shall not be less than 30% of the net profit attributable to owners of the Company realized in that year. We distribute dividends twice a year. Distribution of final dividends needs to be passed at the general meeting by ordinary resolution. The general meeting can, by ordinary resolution, authorize the board of directors to determine the distribution of interim dividends. Since our shares got listed on the stock exchanges, we have strictly complied with the Articles of Association and other relevant regulatory requirements, and adhered to the principle of bringing returns to shareholders, we have been distributing 45% of our net profit attributable to owners of the Company as dividends. Since 2016, considering the profit was negatively impacted by the low oil price, we have distributed special dividends in addition to the base dividends of 45% of the net profit attributable to owners of the Company.

Our board of directors will declare dividends, if any, in Renminbi on a per share basis and will pay such dividends in Renminbi with respect to A Shares and HK dollars with respect to H Shares. The Bank of New York will convert the HK dollar dividends and distribute them to holders of ADSs in U.S. dollars, less expenses of conversion. The holders of the A Shares and H Shares will share proportionately on a per share basis in all dividends and other distributions declared by our board of directors.

We will take into account factors including the following for declaration of dividends:

 

   

general business conditions;

 

   

our financial results;

 

   

capital requirements;

 

   

contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends by us to our shareholders or by our subsidiaries to us;

 

   

our shareholders’ interests;

 

   

the effect on our debt ratings; and

 

   

other factors our board of directors may deem relevant.

We may only distribute dividends after we have made allowances for:

 

   

recovery of losses, if any;

 

   

allocations to the statutory common reserve fund; and

 

   

allocations to a discretionary common reserve fund if approved by our shareholders.

 

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The allocation to the statutory funds is 10% of profit for the year attributable to owners of the company determined in accordance with PRC accounting rules. Under PRC law, our distributable earnings will be equal to our profit for the year attributable to owners of the company determined in accordance with PRC accounting rules or IFRS, whichever is lower, less allocations to the statutory and discretionary funds.

We believe that our dividend policy strikes a balance between two important goals:

 

   

providing our shareholders with a competitive return on investment; and

 

   

assuring sufficient reinvestment of profits to enable us to achieve our strategic objectives.

In 2019, a dividend of RMB0.07765 per share (inclusive of applicable taxes) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was paid to our A shareholders and H shareholders (including ADS holders). The board of directors recommended a final dividend of RMB0.04243 per share (which is 45% of the net profit attributable to owners of the Company for the second half of 2019) and an additional special final dividend of RMB0.02358 per share, totaling RMB0.06601 (inclusive of applicable taxes). The final dividend for the year ended December 31, 2019 is subject to the approval by the annual general meeting to be held on June 11, 2020, and shall be paid to our shareholders listed on our shareholder register as of the close of business on June 29, 2020. The register of members of H Shares will be closed from June 24, 2020 to June 29, 2020 (both days inclusive) during which period no transfer of H Shares will be registered. The final dividends for A shares and H Shares (including ADSs) for 2019 will be paid on or about June 30, 2020 and July 31, 2020, respectively.

Significant Changes

None.

Item 9 — THE OFFER AND LISTING

Trading Market Information

Our ADSs, each representing 100 H Shares, par value RMB1.00 per H Share, have been listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange since April 6, 2000 under the symbol “PTR”. Our H Shares have been listed and traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since April 7, 2000 under the symbol “857”. In September 2005, our company issued an additional 3,196,801,818 H Shares. CNPC also sold 319,680,182 state-owned shares it held concurrently with our company’s issuance of new H Shares in September 2005. In October 2007, we issued 4 billion A Shares and these shares were listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on November 5, 2007 under the symbol “601857”. Following the issuance of A Shares, all the domestic shares of our company existing prior to the issuance of A Shares, i.e. the shares held by CNPC (our controlling shareholder) in our company, have been registered with China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited as tradable A Shares. The New York Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange are the principal trading markets for our ADSs, H Shares and A Shares, respectively.

As of December 31, 2019, there were 21,098,900,000 H Shares and 161,922,077,818 A Shares issued and outstanding. As of December 31, 2019, there were 156 registered holders of American depositary receipts evidencing 7,099,291 ADSs. The depositary of the ADSs is the Bank of New York Mellon.

Item 10 — ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Memorandum and Articles of Association

Our Articles of Association Currently in Effect

On October 26, 2017, the amendment to the Articles of Association of the Company was approved at an extraordinary general meeting. The amendment took effect as of the same day. The amendment includes, among

 

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others, (i) according to the PRC Company Law and the Constitution of the Communist Party of China, the company shall set up the CPC organizations and working bodies with adequate staff and funds; the CPC organizations shall play the role of the core of leadership and political center of the company. The board of directors of the company shall take the CPC organization’s advices before it determines such material matters as the orientations of the company’s reform and development, key objectives and tasks and major work arrangements. With respect to appointment of management of the company, the CPC organizations shall consider and provide their comments and suggestions on the candidates nominated by the board of directors or the president, or the CPC organizations may recommend candidates to the board of directors and the president; (ii) a cumulative voting system of the Company is implemented for election of directors and supervisors at general meeting; and (iii) the tenure of re-elected independent directors cannot exceed six years.

The following is a summary based on the significant provisions of our Articles of Association. For details, you should read our amended and restated Articles of Association filed with SEC on October 26, 2017.

Objectives and Purposes

We are a joint stock limited company established in accordance with the PRC Company Law and certain other laws and regulations of the PRC. We are registered with the PRC State Administration for Industry and Commerce with a business license number being 1000001003252. Article 10 of our articles of association provides that our objectives are to comply with the rules of the market, to continuously explore business models which are suitable for the development of the Company, to fully utilize every resource of the Company, to place emphasis on personnel training and technological development, to provide the society with competitive products, and to use its best endeavors to maximize its profits. Article 11 of our articles of association provides that our scope of businesses includes, among other things, exploration and production of oil and natural gas; storage and sale of crude oil and refined oil; production, sale and storage of refined oil, petrochemical and chemical products; import and export; construction and operation of oil and natural gas pipelines; technical development, consultation and service for oil exploration and production, petrochemistry and related engineering; sale of materials, equipment and machines necessary for production and construction of oil and gas, petrochemicals and pipelines construction; the sale and warehousing of lubricating oil, fuel oil, bitumen, chemical fertilizers, auto parts, commodities and agricultural materials, etc.

Directors

Our directors shall be elected at our shareholders’ general meeting. Our directors shall be elected for a term of three years and may serve consecutive terms upon re-election, except that independent directors may only serve a maximum of two terms. Our directors are not required to hold any shares in us, and there is no age limit requirement for the retirement or non-retirement of our directors.

Where a director is in any way, directly or indirectly, materially interested in a proposal, arrangement or contract (other than his contract of service with the Company), he shall declare the nature and extent of his interests to the board of directors at the earliest opportunity, whether or not the proposal, arrangement or contract therefor is subject to the approval of the board of directors. Unless the interested director discloses his interests to the board of directors and the proposal, arrangement or contract is approved by the board of directors at a meeting in which the interested director, is not counted as part of the quorum and abstain from voting, the proposal, arrangement or contract in which that director is materially interested is voidable at the discretion of the Company except as against a bona fide party thereto who does not have knowledge of the breach of duty by the interested director. For this purposes, a director is deemed to be interested a proposal, arrangement or contract in which his associate is interested. Where a director gives to the board of directors a notice in writing stating that, by reason of the facts specified in the notice, he is interested in a proposal, arrangement or contract which may subsequently be entered into by the Company, that notice shall be deemed to be a sufficient declaration of his interests so far as the content stated in such notice is concerned, provided that such notice shall have been given before the date on which the entering into the relevant contract or arrangement is first taken into consideration by the Company.

 

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Matters relating to the remuneration of our directors shall be determined by the shareholders’ general meeting.

We shall not directly or indirectly make a loan to or provide any security for a director, unless the provision by the Company of a loan or a security or any other funds to a director to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him for the sake of the Company or for the purpose of enabling him to perform his duties properly, in accordance with the terms of a service contract approved by the shareholders in a general meeting. If the ordinary business scope of the Company includes the provision of loans and security, the Company may make a loan to or provide a security to a director on normal commercial terms.

Dividends

Dividend shall be paid twice a year. The final dividends of the Company shall be decided by the shareholders by way of an ordinary resolution. The shareholders may by way of an ordinary resolution authorize the board of directors to decide on the interim dividends. The Company may pay any dividends in cash, shares or otherwise in such other way as permitted by laws and regulations. The Company will tend to pay any such dividends in cash over other methods of payment. The Company shall pay cash dividends for the year in which both the net profit attributable to the parent company and the cumulative undistributed profit are positive and so long as the cash flows of the Company may support its normal course of operation and sustainable development. Any such cash dividends shall not be less than 30% of the net profit attributable to the parent company for that year. If the shareholders’ general meeting passes motions in connection with the distribution of cash dividend, allotment of bonus shares, or conversion of capital common reserve fund into share capital, the Company shall implement detailed plans thereof within two months after the conclusion of such shareholders’ general meeting. If a shareholder has not claimed his dividends six years after such dividends has been declared in accordance with the Articles of Association, such shareholder is deemed to forfeit his right to claim such dividends.

When the Company distributes its after-tax profits for a given year, it shall allocate 10% of profits to its statutory common reserve fund. The Company shall no longer be required to make allocations to its statutory common reserve fund once the aggregate amount of such reserve reaches 50% or more of its registered capital. If the Company’s statutory common reserve fund is insufficient to make up its losses of the previous years, such losses shall be made up from the profit for the current year before the Company makes allocations to the statutory common reserve fund. The Company may, if so resolved by the shareholders’ meeting, make allocations to the discretionary common reserve fund from after-tax profits after making allocations to the statutory common reserve fund from the after-tax profits. The Company’s after-tax profits remaining after it has made up its losses and made allocations to its common reserve fund shall be distributed in proportion to the shareholdings of its shareholders. If the shareholders’ meeting distributes profits before the Company has made up its losses and made allocations to the statutory common reserve fund, the profits distributed must be returned to the Company.

Shareholders’ Rights

A shareholder of the Company is a person who lawfully holds shares of the Company and whose name (title) is entered in the register of shareholders. Shareholders who hold shares of the same class shall enjoy the same rights. Article 49 set forth the rights of shareholders of ordinary shares such as the right to (i) receive dividends and other distributions in proportion to the number of shares held; (ii) propose, convene, preside over, attend or appoint a proxy to attend shareholders’ general meetings and to vote thereat in accordance with laws; (iii) supervise management over business operations and present proposals or to raise queries; (iv) transfer, donate or pledge shares; (v) obtain financial information and other company information; (vi) participate in the distribution of residual assets of the Company in proportion to the number of shares held, in the event of the termination or liquidation of the Company, etc.

If the content of a resolution of a shareholders’ general meeting or the board of directors violates any laws or administrative regulations, a shareholder has the right to file a petition with the court to invalidate the

 

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resolution. If the procedure for convening or the method of voting at a shareholders’ general meeting or a meeting of the board of directors violates any laws, administrative regulations or the Company’s Articles of Association, or if the contents of a resolution breaches the Company’s Articles of Association, a shareholder may file a petition with the court to revoke the resolution within 60 days from the date on which the resolution was passed. If a director or any other senior officers violated any laws, administrative regulations or the Company’s Articles of Association in the course of performing his or her duties to the Company, and thereby caused the Company to incur a loss, a shareholder or shareholders who individually or jointly hold one per cent (1%) or more of the Company’s shares for more than one hundred and eighty (180) consecutive days may request in writing the supervisory committee to initiate proceedings in the court. If the supervisory committee has violated the laws, administrative regulations or the Articles of Association in the course of performing its duties to the Company, and thereby caused the Company to incur a loss, shareholder(s) may request in writing the board of directors to initiate proceedings in the court in respect thereof. If the supervisory committee or the board of directors refuses to initiate proceedings after receipt of a written request from the shareholder(s) as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, or fails to initiate proceedings within 30 days of the date of receipt of the request, or under urgent circumstances where failure to promptly initiate proceedings would cause irreparable harm to the Company’s interests, the shareholders mentioned in the preceding paragraph are entitled to directly initiate proceedings in the court in their own name in the interests of the Company.

Shareholders’ General Meetings

Shareholders’ general meetings shall be convened by the board of directors. Annual general meetings are held once every year and within 6 months from the end of the preceding financial year. The board of directors shall convene an extraordinary general meeting within 2 months of the occurrence of any one of the events set forth in Article 63.

A 45-days prior written notice should be given to all of the shareholders whose names appear in the share register. A shareholder who intends to attend the meeting shall deliver to the Company his written reply concerning his attendance at such meeting 20 days before the date of the meeting. Shareholder(s) holding 3% or more of the total voting shares of the Company shall have the right to propose motions in writing to the convener 10 days prior to the date of such meeting. Any shareholder who is entitled to attend and vote at a general meeting shall be entitled to appoint one or more persons as his proxies to attend and vote on his behalf.

A shareholder (including a proxy), when voting at a general meeting, may exercise such voting rights as are attached to the voting shares which he represents, except where the cumulative voting system is adopted for voting on the election of directors and supervisors, each share shall have one vote. The voting on the election of directors and supervisors at the general meeting shall apply the cumulative voting system, which means that each share held by a shareholder shall have the same number of voting rights as the number of directors and supervisors to be elected and the voting rights held by a shareholder can be collectively exercised. At any shareholders’ general meeting, a resolution shall be decided on a show of hands unless voting by way of a poll is required under the listing rules or demanded by the following persons before or after any vote by a show of hands: (i) the chairman of the meeting; (ii) at least two shareholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote thereat; (iii) one or more shareholders present in person or by proxy who represent(s), individually or in aggregate, 10% or more of all shares carrying the right to vote at the meeting.

An ordinary resolution must be passed by votes representing one-half or more of the voting rights represented by the shareholders (including proxies) present at the general meeting. The following matters shall be resolved by an ordinary resolution: (i) work reports of the board of directors and the supervisory committee; (ii) annual profit distribution plans and loss recovery plans formulated by the board of directors; (iii) appointment or removal of members of the board of directors and members of the supervisory committee, their remuneration and manner of payment; (iv) annual budgets and final accounts, balance sheets and profit and loss accounts and other financial statements of the Company; (v) matters other than those which are required by the laws, administrative regulations or the Company’s Articles of Association to be adopted by a special resolution.

 

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A special resolution must be passed by votes representing two-thirds or more of the voting rights represented by the shareholders (including proxies) present at the general meeting. The following matters shall be resolved by a special resolution: (i) increase or reduction in the share capital of the Company and the issue of shares of any class, warrants and other similar securities by the Company; (ii) issue of debentures of the Company; (iii) division, merger, dissolution and liquidation of the Company; (iv) amendment of the Company’s Articles of Association; (v) acquisition or disposal of major assets in one year or provision of securities for third parties which exceeds 30% of the latest audited total assets of the Company; (vi) stock incentive plans; (vii) any other matters considered by the shareholders at general meeting, and resolved by way of an ordinary resolution, to be of a nature which may have a material impact on the Company and should be adopted by a special resolution in accordance with the laws, administrative regulations and the Company’s Articles of Association.

Where any shareholders request for the convention of an extraordinary general meeting or a class meeting the following procedures shall be followed: (i) shareholders who individually or in aggregate hold not less than 10% of the Company’s shares with voting right shall have the right to request in writing the board of directors to convene an extraordinary general meeting or a class meeting. The board of directors shall, according to the laws, administrative regulations and the Company’s Articles of Association, give written feedback of consenting to or refusing the convening of such extraordinary shareholders’ general meeting within 10 days after it has received the request. If the board of directors consents to convene an extraordinary general meeting or a class meeting, it shall give notice for such shareholders’ general meeting within five days after it has so resolved. The consent of the concerned shareholders shall be obtained if any change is to be made to the request in the notice. If the board of directors refuses to convene an extraordinary general meeting or a class meeting, or it fails to give any feedback within 10 days after it has received the request, the shareholders who individually or in aggregate hold not less 10% of the Company’s shares shall have the right to request in writing the supervisory committee to convene the extraordinary general meeting or class meeting; and (ii) If the supervisory committee consents to convene the extraordinary general meeting or the class meeting, it shall give the notice for such shareholders’ general meeting within five days after it has received the request. The consent of the concerned shareholders shall be obtained if any change is to be made to the request in the notice. If the supervisory committee fails to give notice of convening the shareholders’ general meeting within the provided time limit, the supervisory committee shall be deemed to have failed to convene and preside the shareholders’ general meeting, and the shareholders who individually or in aggregate hold not less than 10% of the Company’s shares for more than 90 consecutive days may at their own discretion convene and preside such a meeting.

The general meeting may authorize the board of directors to carry out matters on their behalf, with clear and specific authorization. For authorization of a matter that requiring an ordinary resolution, an ordinary resolution of the shareholders’ general meeting shall be passed by affirmative votes representing at least 50% of the voting rights represented by the shareholders (including shareholders’ proxies) present at the meeting. For authorization of a matter that requiring a special resolution, a special resolution of the shareholders’ general meeting shall be passed by affirmative votes representing at least two-thirds of the voting rights represented by the shareholders (including shareholders’ proxies) present at the meeting.

Special Procedures for Voting by a Class of Shareholders and Modification of Rights

In addition to holders of other classes of shares, the holders of the domestic-invested shares and holders of overseas-listed foreign-invested shares shall be deemed to be holders of different classes of shares. Rights conferred on any class of shareholders (“class rights”) may not be varied or abrogated save with the approval of a special resolution of shareholders at a general meeting and by the class shareholders affected at a separate meeting. Article 96 set forth the circumstances which shall be deemed to be variation or abrogation of the rights attaching to a particular class of shares, including but not limited to increasing or decreasing the number of shares of that class, reducing or removing preferential rights attached to shares of that class to receive dividends or the distribution of assets in the event that the Company is liquidated, etc. Shareholders of the affected class, whether or not otherwise having the right to vote at shareholders’ general meetings, have the right to vote at class meetings in respect of certain matters listed in Article 96, but interested shareholder(s) shall not be entitled to

 

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vote at such class meetings. Resolutions of a class meeting shall be passed by votes representing two-thirds or more of the voting rights of shareholders of that class present at the relevant meeting who are entitled to vote. Written notice of a class meeting shall be given to all shareholders who are registered as holders of that class in the register of shareholders 45 days before the date of the class meeting. A shareholder who intends to attend the class meeting shall deliver his written reply in respect thereof to the Company 20 days before the date of the class meeting. The special procedures for approval by separate class shareholders shall not apply to the circumstances where the Company issues, upon the approval by a special resolution of its shareholders at a general meeting, either separately or concurrently once every 12 months, not more than 20% of each of its existing issued Domestic-Invested Shares and Overseas-Listed Foreign-Invested Shares.

Share Capital

The Company must have ordinary shares at all times. Subject to the applicable government approvals, the Company may create different classes of shares. Each share of the same class shall carry the same rights and the same benefits. The Company may, based on its operating and development needs, authorize the increase of its capital pursuant to the Articles of Association. The Company may increase its capital by public or non-public offering of shares; by allotting bonus shares to its existing shareholders; by converting common reserve fund into share capital; by any other means which is stipulated by law and administrative regulation and approved the relevant government authorities. Unless otherwise stipulated in the relevant laws or administrative regulations, shares of the Company shall be freely transferable and are not subject to any lien. Domestic-invested shares and overseas-listed foreign-invested shares shall be purchased, sold, donated, inherited and charged on in accordance with the PRC laws and the Company’s Articles of Association. The Company may not accept its own shares as the subject matter of a pledge. Subject to certain conditions, the Company has the power to sell the shares of a shareholder who is untraceable and retain the payment. According to the procedures provided in the Company’s Articles of Association, the Company may reduce its registered capital. The Company may, in accordance with the procedures set out in the Company’s Articles of Association and with the approval of the relevant governing authorities, repurchase its issued shares under certain circumstances. The repurchase may be made by a general offer, stock exchange, off-market agreement, etc. The Company must obtain prior approval of the shareholders in a general meeting (in the manner stipulated in the Company’s Articles of Association) before it can repurchase shares outside of the stock exchange by means of an off-market agreement.

Material Contracts

In the two years proceeding the date of this report, we have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described under “Item 4 — Information on the Company”, “Item 7 — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions” or elsewhere in this Form annual report.

Foreign Exchange Controls

The Renminbi currently is not a freely convertible currency. We receive most of our revenues in Renminbi. A portion of our Renminbi revenues must be converted into other currencies to meet our foreign currency obligations, including:

 

   

debt service on foreign currency-denominated debt;

 

   

external capital expenditures and equity investment;

 

   

purchases of imported equipment and materials; and

 

   

payment of any dividends declared with respect to the H Shares.

Under the existing foreign exchange regulations in China, we may undertake current account foreign exchange transactions, including the payment of dividends, without prior approval from the State Administration

 

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of Foreign Exchange by producing commercial documents evidencing such transactions, provided that they are processed through Chinese banks licensed to engage in foreign exchange transactions.

Foreign exchange transactions under the capital account, including principal payments with respect to foreign currency-denominated obligations, continue to be subject to limitations and require the prior approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. These limitations could affect our ability to obtain foreign exchange through debt financing, or to obtain foreign exchange for capital expenditures.

We have been, and will continue to be, affected by changes in exchange rates in connection with our ability to meet our foreign currency obligations and will be affected by such changes in connection with our ability to pay dividends on the H Shares in Hong Kong dollars and on ADSs in U.S. dollars. We believe that we have or will be able to obtain sufficient foreign exchange to continue to satisfy these obligations. We do not engage in any financial contract or other arrangement to hedge our currency exposure.

We are not aware of any other PRC laws, decrees or regulations that restrict the export or import of capital or that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to non-resident holders.

Taxation

The following discussion addresses the main PRC and United States federal income tax consequences of the ownership of H Shares or ADSs purchased held by the investor as capital assets.

PRC Taxation

Dividends and Individual Investors

Pursuant to the Individual Income Tax Law of the PRC, all foreign individuals are subject to a 20% withholding tax on dividends paid by a PRC company on its shares listed overseas, or Overseas Shares, unless specifically exempt by the financial authority of the State Council of the PRC. However, pursuant to the Notice on the Collection of Individual Income Tax after the Abolishment of Guoshuifa [1993] No. 045, or Circular 348, issued by the State General Administration of Taxation of the PRC on June 28, 2011, foreign individual shareholders holding H Shares, or individual H shareholders, in a PRC company listed in Hong Kong may be subject to different levels of withholding taxes on dividends based on the tax treaties of their home countries with China. Individual H shareholders, who are residents of Hong Kong or Macau or who enjoy a 10% tax rate on dividends based on the tax treaties of their home countries with China, are subject to a withholding tax rate of 10% with respect to the H-share dividends they receive. For those individual H shareholders whose home countries have tax treaties with China prescribing a tax rate on dividends lower than 10%, the PRC company, whose shares are held by such individual H shareholders, needs to make tax filings on behalf of the individual H shareholders in order for them to enjoy such tax treatment. For individual H shareholders whose home countries have tax treaties with China prescribing a tax rate on dividends between 10% and 20%, the PRC company, whose shares are held by such individual H shareholders, shall withhold the individual income tax at the agreed-upon tax rate. For individual H shareholders whose home countries have no tax treaties with China or whose home countries have tax treaties with China prescribing a tax rate on dividends higher than 20%, the PRC company shall withhold the tax at a rate of 20%.

Dividends and Foreign Enterprises

Pursuant to the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC and the implementing rules thereunder, the Circular on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Corporate Income Tax by PRC Resident Enterprises from Dividends Payable to H Share Non-resident Corporate Shareholders, and the Measures for the Administration of the Enjoyment by Non-residents of the Treatments under the Tax Treaties, when paying any of its H share non-resident corporate shareholders any dividends, we withhold the corporate income tax from such dividends at

 

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a rate of 10%. For an H share non-resident corporate shareholder whose home country has a tax treaty with China prescribing a tax rate on dividends lower than 10%, such H share non-resident corporate shareholder may, by itself or through an agent or us, make filings with the competent taxation authority for the treatment under the applicable tax treaty and present the documents evidencing that such shareholder is qualified to be a beneficial owner as defined under the applicable tax treaty.

Tax Treaties

If you are a tax resident or citizen of a country that has entered into a double-taxation treaty with the PRC, you may be entitled to a reduction in the amount of tax withheld, if any, imposed on the payment of dividends. The PRC currently has such treaties with a number of countries, including but not limited to:

 

   

the United States;

 

   

Australia;

 

   

Canada;

 

   

France;

 

   

Germany;

 

   

Japan;

 

   

Malaysia;

 

   

Singapore;

 

   

the United Kingdom; and

 

   

the Netherlands.

Under certain treaties, the rate of withholding tax imposed by China’s taxation authorities may be reduced. Pursuant to the Measures for the Administration of the Enjoyment by Non-residents of the Treatments under the Tax Treaties promulgated by the State Administration of Taxation on August 27, 2015, non-PRC residents are entitled to the applicable benefit under tax treaties when they make tax filings or upon withholding by third parties and no prior approvals of the taxation authorities are required.

Capital Gains

The Individual Income Tax Law of the PRC, provides for a capital gains tax of 20% on individuals. The Provisions for Implementing the Individual Income Tax Law of the PRC, provides that the measures to levy individual income tax on the gains realized on the sale of shares will be made in the future by the Ministry of Finance and subject to the approval of the State Council. However, the Ministry of Finance has not so far promulgated a specific taxation method to levy tax on the capital gains realized by individual holders of H Shares or ADSs from sale of shares. If in the future such specific taxation method is promulgated, an individual holder of H Shares or ADSs may be subject to a 20% tax on capital gains under the Individual Income Tax Law of the PRC as amended from time to time, unless exempted or reduced by an applicable double taxation treaty or relevant PRC law or regulation.

Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, capital gains realized by foreign enterprises which are non-resident enterprises in the PRC upon the sale of Overseas Shares by PRC companies are generally subject to a PRC withholding tax levied at a rate of 10%, unless exempted or reduced pursuant to an applicable double-taxation treaty or other exemptions.

Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect

In April 2014, China launched the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program, which is a cross-boundary investment channel that connects the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Under the

 

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program, investors in each market are able to trade shares on the other market using their local brokers and clearing agencies. In accordance with the current PRC tax policies, foreign investors are temporarily exempt from income tax on capital gains derived from the trading of A Shares under the program and will be subject to a 10% withholding tax on the dividends received under the program. For a shareholder whose home country has tax treaty with China prescribing a tax rate on dividends lower than 10%, such shareholder may by itself or through an agent or the withholding agent, apply to the competent taxation authority for the treatment under the applicable tax treaty and present the documents evidencing that such shareholder is qualified to be a beneficial owner as defined under the applicable tax treaty.

Additional PRC Tax Considerations

Under the Provisional Regulations of the People’s Republic of China Concerning the Stamp Duty, a stamp duty is not imposed by the PRC on the transfer of shares, such as the H Shares or ADSs, of PRC publicly traded companies that take place outside of China.

United States Federal Income Taxation

The following is a general discussion of the material United States federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of the H Shares or ADSs if you are a U.S. holder, as defined below, and hold the H Shares or ADSs as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. This discussion does not address all of the tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the H Shares or ADSs, and does not take into account U.S. holders who may be subject to special rules including:

 

   

tax-exempt entities;

 

   

certain insurance companies;

 

   

broker-dealers;

 

   

traders in securities that elect to mark to market;

 

   

U.S. expatriates;

 

   

U.S. holders liable for alternative minimum tax;

 

   

U.S. holders that own (directly, indirectly, or constructively) 10% or more of the voting power or value of our equity;

 

   

U.S. holders that hold as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion transaction; or

 

   

U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

This discussion is based on the Code, its legislative history, final, temporary and proposed United States Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, published rulings and court decisions as in effect on the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, or changes in interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. In addition, this discussion is based in part upon representations of the depositary and the assumption that each obligation in the deposit agreement and any related agreements will be performed according to its terms.

You are a “U.S. holder” if you are:

 

   

a citizen or resident of the United States for United States federal income tax purposes;

 

   

a corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income tax without regard to its source; or

 

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a trust:

 

   

subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and the control of one or more United States persons; or

 

   

that has elected to be treated as a United States person under applicable United States Treasury regulations.

If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holds the H Shares or ADSs, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership that holds the H Shares or ADSs, we urge you to consult your tax advisors regarding the consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the H Shares or ADSs.

This discussion does not address any aspects of United States taxation other than federal income taxation.

We urge you to consult your tax advisors regarding the United States federal, state, local and non-United States tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the H Shares or ADSs.

In general, if you hold American depositary receipts evidencing ADSs, you will be treated as owner of the H Shares represented by the ADSs. The following discussion assumes that we are not a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, as discussed under “PFIC Rules” below.

Distributions on the H Shares or ADSs

The gross amount of any distribution (without reduction for any PRC tax withheld) we make on the H Shares or ADSs out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) will be includible in your gross income as dividend income when the distribution is actually or constructively received by you, in the case of the H Shares, or by the depositary in the case of ADSs. Because we do not intend to determine our earnings and profits on the basis of United States federal income tax principles, any distribution paid will generally be treated as a “dividend” for United States federal income tax purposes. Subject to certain limitations, dividends paid to non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, currently are eligible for a reduced rate of taxation if we are deemed to be a “qualified foreign corporation” for United States federal income tax purposes. A qualified foreign corporation includes:

 

   

a foreign corporation that is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States that includes an exchange of information program; or

 

   

a foreign corporation if its stock with respect to which a dividend is paid (or ADSs backed by such stock) is readily tradable on an established securities market within the United States (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes),

but does not include an otherwise qualified foreign corporation that is a PFIC in the taxable year that the dividend is paid or in the prior taxable year. We believe that we will be a qualified foreign corporation so long as we are not a PFIC and we are considered eligible for the benefits of the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, or the Treaty. Our status as a qualified foreign corporation, however, may change.

Distributions that exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to you to the extent of your tax basis in the H Shares or ADSs and thereafter as capital gains. Any dividend will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to United States corporations with respect to dividends received from United States corporations. The amount of any distribution of property other than cash will be the fair market value of such property on the date of such distribution.

 

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If we make a distribution paid in HK dollars, you will be considered to receive the U.S. dollar value of the distribution determined at the spot HK dollar/ U.S. dollar rate on the date such distribution is received by you or by the depositary, regardless of whether you or the depositary convert the distribution into U.S. dollars. Any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date the dividend payment is includible in your income to the date you or the depositary convert the distribution into U.S. dollars will be treated as United States source ordinary income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

Subject to various limitations, any PRC tax withheld from distributions in accordance with PRC law, as limited by the Treaty, as discussed under “— PRC Taxation,” will be deductible or creditable against your United States federal income tax liability. For foreign tax credit limitation purposes, dividends paid on the H Shares or ADSs will be foreign source income, and will be treated as “passive category income” or, in the case of some U.S. holders, “general category income.” You may not be able to claim a foreign tax credit (and instead may claim a deduction) for non-United States taxes imposed on dividends paid on the H Shares or ADSs if you (i) have held the H Shares or ADSs for less than a specified minimum period during which you are not protected from risk of loss with respect to such Shares, or (ii) are obligated to make payments related to the dividends (for example, pursuant to a short sale).

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition

Upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of the H Shares or ADSs, you will recognize a capital gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized and your tax basis, determined in U.S. dollars, in such H Shares or ADSs. Any gain or loss will generally be United States source gain or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Capital gain of certain non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, is generally taxed at a reduced rate where the property has been held more than one year. Your ability to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations. If any PRC tax is withheld from your gain on a sale, exchange or other disposition of H Shares or ADSs, as discussed under “— PRC Taxation,” such tax would only be creditable against your United States federal income tax liability to the extent that you have foreign source income. However, in the event that such PRC tax is withheld, a U.S. holder that is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty may be able to treat the gain as foreign source income for foreign tax credit satisfaction purposes. You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the United States federal income tax consequences if PRC tax is withheld from your gain on the sale, exchange or other disposition of H Shares or ADSs, including the availability of a foreign tax credit under your particular circumstances.

If you are paid in a currency other than U.S. dollars, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date of the payment resulting from the sale, exchange or other disposition to the date you convert the payment into U.S. dollars will be treated as United States source ordinary income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

PFIC Rules

In general, a foreign corporation is a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes for any taxable year in which, after applying relevant look-through rules with respect to the income and assets of subsidiaries:

 

   

75% or more of its gross income consists of passive income, such as dividends, interest, rents and royalties; or

 

   

50% or more of the average quarterly value of its assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income.

For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, certain types of rents and royalties, annuities, net gains from the sale or exchange of property producing such income, net gains from commodity transactions, net foreign currency gains and net income from notional principal contracts. In addition, cash, cash equivalents, securities held for investment purposes, and certain other similar assets are generally categorized as passive assets.

 

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We believe that we did not meet either of the PFIC tests in the taxable year that ended December 31, 2019 and believe that we will not meet either of the PFIC tests in the current or subsequent taxable years and therefore will not be treated as a PFIC for such periods. We must make a separate determination after the close of each taxable year as to whether we were a PFIC for that year. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC in the current or subsequent taxable years.

If we were a PFIC in any taxable year that you held the H Shares or ADSs, you generally would be subject to special rules with respect to “excess distributions” made by us on the H Shares or ADSs and with respect to gain from your disposition of the H Shares or ADSs. An “excess distribution” generally is defined as the excess of the distributions you receive with respect to the H Shares or ADSs in any taxable year over 125% of the average annual distributions you have received from us during the shorter of the three preceding years or your holding period for the H Shares or ADSs. Generally, you would be required to allocate any excess distribution or gain from the disposition of the H Shares or ADSs ratably over your holding period for the H Shares or ADSs. The portion of the excess distribution or gain allocated to a prior taxable year, other than a year prior to the first year in which we became a PFIC, would be taxed at the highest United States federal income tax rate on ordinary income in effect for such taxable year, and you would be subject to an interest charge on the resulting tax liability, determined as if the tax liability had been due with respect to such particular taxable years. The portion of the excess distribution or gain that is not allocated to prior taxable years, together with the portion allocated to the years prior to the first year in which we became a PFIC, would be included in your gross income for the taxable year of the excess distribution or disposition and taxed as ordinary income.

The foregoing rules with respect to excess distributions and dispositions may be avoided or reduced if you are eligible for and timely make a valid “mark-to-market” election. If your H Shares or ADSs were treated as shares regularly traded on a “qualified exchange” for United States federal income tax purposes and a valid and timely mark-to-market election was made, in calculating your taxable income for each taxable year, you generally would be required to take into account as ordinary income or loss the difference, if any, between the fair market value and the adjusted tax basis of your H Shares or ADSs at the end of your taxable year. However, the amount of loss you would be allowed is limited to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to–market election. The New York Stock Exchange on which the ADSs are traded is a qualified exchange for United States federal income tax purposes.

Alternatively, a timely election to treat us as a qualified electing fund under Section 1295 of the Code could be made to avoid the foregoing rules with respect to excess distributions and dispositions. You should be aware, however, that if we become a PFIC, we do not intend to satisfy record keeping requirements that would permit you to make a qualified electing fund election.

If you own the H Shares or ADSs during any year that we are a PFIC, you must annually file Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, Form 8621(or any other form subsequently specified by the United States Treasury Department), subject to certain exceptions based on the value of PFIC stock held. We encourage you to consult your own tax advisor concerning the United States federal income tax consequences of holding the H Shares or ADSs that would arise if we were considered a PFIC.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, information reporting requirements will apply to dividends with respect to the H Shares or ADSs or the proceeds of the sale, exchange or other disposition of the H Shares or ADSs paid within the United States, and in some cases, outside of the United States, other than to various exempt recipients, including corporations. In addition, you may, under some circumstances, be subject to “backup withholding” with respect to dividends paid on the H Shares or ADSs or the proceeds of any sale, exchange or other disposition of the H Shares or ADSs, unless you:

 

   

are a corporation or fall within various other exempt categories, and, when required, demonstrate this fact; or

 

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provide a correct taxpayer identification number on a properly completed IRS Form W-9 or a substitute form, certify that you are exempt from backup withholding and otherwise comply with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be creditable against your United States federal income tax liability provided that you furnish the required information to the IRS in a timely manner and you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS in a timely manner and furnishing any required information. If you do not provide a correct taxpayer identification number you may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS.

In addition, certain U.S. holders who are individuals that hold certain foreign financial assets (which may include the H Shares or ADSs) may be required to report information relating to such assets, subject to certain exceptions. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this requirement on your ownership and disposition of the H Shares or ADSs.

Documents on Display

You may find our annual reports on Form 20-F, the exhibits and other documents filed with the SEC on its website www.sec.gov.

The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with the Commission. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the Commission. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this annual report on Form 20-F.

Item 11 — QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

In the normal course of business, we hold or issue various financial instruments which expose us to interest rate and foreign exchange rate risks. Additionally, our operations are affected by certain commodity price movements. We use derivative instruments such as commodity futures, commodity swaps and commodity options for hedging some price risks efficiently. Substantially all of the financial instruments we hold are for purposes other than trading. We regard an effective market risk management system as an important element of our treasury function and are currently enhancing our systems. A primary objective of our market risk management is to implement certain methodologies to better measure and monitor risk exposures.

The following discussions and tables, which constitute “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, summarize our market-sensitive financial instruments including fair value, maturity and contract terms. Such discussions address market risk only and do not present other risks which we face in the normal course of business.

Interest Rate Risk

Our interest risk exposure arises from changing interest rates. The tables below provide information about our financial instruments including various debt obligations that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The tables present principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates at expected maturity dates. Weighted-average variable rates are based on effective rates as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The information is presented in Renminbi equivalents, our reporting currency.

Foreign Exchange Rate Risk

We conduct our business primarily in Renminbi. However, a portion of our RMB revenues are converted into other currencies to be used in foreign investment and trading, to meet foreign currency financial instrument

 

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obligations and to pay for imported oil, gas, equipment and other materials. Foreign currency payments for imported equipment represented 3.2%, 3.5% and 1.4% of our total payments for equipment in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Foreign currency payments for other imported materials represented 0.01%, 0.0002% and 0.09% of our total payments for materials in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

The Renminbi is not a freely convertible currency. Limitation in foreign exchange transactions imposed by the PRC government could cause future exchange rates to vary significantly from current or historical exchange rates.

 

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The tables below provide information about our financial instruments including foreign currency denominated debt instruments that are sensitive to foreign currency exchange rates. The tables below summarize such information by presenting principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates at expected maturity dates in RMB equivalents, using the exchange rates in effect as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

December 31, 2019

 

    Expected Maturity Date     Percentage
to Total
Long-Term
Borrowings
    Fair
Value
 
    2020     2021     2022     2023     2024     Thereafter     Total  
    (RMB equivalent in millions, except percentages)  

Long term debt

               

Loans in RMB

               

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    10,537       4,645       33,010       2,855       17,716       10,152       78,915       20.97%       76,027  

Average interest rate

    4.00%       2.79%       4.07%       4.30%       3.17%       4.15%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

    2,854       17,515       51,274       315       768       7,839       80,565       21.41%       80,565  

Average interest rate

    4.52%       4.37%       4.12%       5.00%       4.32%       4.11%                    

Loans in Euro

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    4       1       1       1             126       133       0.04%       239  

Average interest rate

    2.00%       2.00%       2.00%       2.00%             3.88%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

    3,595                                     3,595       0.96%       3,595  

Average interest rate

    2.35%                                                  

Loans in United States Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    36       36       17       9       9       105       212       0.06%       188  

Average interest rate

    0.49%       0.49%       0.36%       0.05%       0.05%       0.05%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

    42,838       12,544       14,769                   13       70,164       18.65%       70,164  

Average interest rate

    4.34%       4.38%       4.03%                   5.41%                    

Loans in Japanese Yen

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    1             3       3       3       8       18       0.00%       18  

Average interest rate

    2.30%             2.30%       2.30%       2.30%       1.77%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Loans in Hong Kong Dollar

                 

Variable Rate Loan Amount

    6       2       672                         680       0.18%       680  

Average interest rate

    2%       2%       3.77%                                      

Debentures in Canadian Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Variable Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Debentures in United States Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Debentures in RMB

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    2,000             31,000             10,300       6,700       50,000       13.29%       49,622  

Average interest rate

    4.30%             3.09%             4.10%       3.84%                    

Medium term note in RMB

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    20,000             15,000             50,000             85,000       22.59%       83,894  

Average interest rate

    3.85%             3.45%             3.64%                          

Medium term note in United State Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    3,472                               3,471       6,943       1.85%       6,815  

Average interest rate

    2.88%                               3.75%                    

Total

    85,343       34,743       145,746       3,183       78,796       28,414       376,225       100.00%       371,807  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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December 31, 2018

 

    Expected Maturity Date     Percentage
to Total
Long-Term
Borrowings
    Fair
Value
 
    2019     2020     2021     2022     2023     Thereafter     Total  
    (RMB equivalent in millions, except percentages)  

Long term debt

               

Loans in RMB

               

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    36,351       10,583       1,310       26,585       2,626       20,114       97,569       28.30%       94,272  

Average interest rate

    4.31%       3.99%       4.43%       3.66%       4.30%       4.58%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

    32,508       3,091       28,339       165       266       7,624       71,993       20.88%       71,993  

Average interest rate

    3.94%       4.53%       4.08%       4.85%       4.89%       4.11%                    

Loans in Euro

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    13                               52       65       0.02%       166  

Average interest rate

    2.00%                               0.95%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

          2,354                               2,354       0.68%       2,354  

Average interest rate

          2.35%                                            

Loans in United States Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    36       36       36       17       9       110       244       0.07%       206  

Average interest rate

    1.17%       1.17%       1.17%       0.75%       0.09%       0.04%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

    2,483       48,621       12,752       12,890                   76,746       22.26%       76,746  

Average interest rate

    2.58%       4.55%       4.71%       4.04%                                

Loans in Japanese Yen

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    8             3       3       3       6       23       0.01%       27  

Average interest rate

    2.40%             2.30%       2.30%       2.30%       0.36%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Loans in Hong Kong Dollar

                 

Variable Rate Loan Amount

    664       6       2       1                   673       0.20%       673  

Average interest rate

    2.57%       2.00%       2.00%       2.00%                                

Debentures in Canadian Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Variable Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Debentures in United States Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Debentures in RMB

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    3,307       2,000       31,000       2,000       8,300       6,700       53,307       15.46%       52,287  

Average interest rate

    1.63%       4.30%       3.09%       4.90%       4.24%       3.96%                    

Medium term note in RMB

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

                35,000                         35,000       10.15%       34,458  

Average interest rate

                2.20%                                      

Medium term note in United State Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

          3,410                         3,408       6,818       1.98%       6,696  

Average interest rate

          2.87%                         3.76%                    

Total

    75,370       70,101       108,442       41,661       11,204       38,014       344,792       100.00%       339,878  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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December 31, 2017

 

    Expected Maturity Date     Percentage
to Total
Long-Term
Borrowings
    Fair
Value
 
    2018     2019     2020     2021     2022     Thereafter     Total  
    (RMB equivalent in millions, except percentages)  

Long term debt

               

Loans in RMB

               

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    244       35,999       6,044       13,109       23,083       30,594       109,073       29.06%       92,939  

Average interest rate

    3.28%       4.33%       4.30%       3.51%       3.86%       4.56%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

    37,142       6,750       2,802       66       232       6,650       53,642       14.29%       53,642  

Average interest rate

    3.44%       4.03%       4.57%       4.55%       4.74%       3.98%                    

Loans in Euro

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    13       21       8                   49       91       0.02%       113  

Average interest rate

                                  4.08%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

        2,341                         2,341       0.62%       2,341  

Average interest rate

                2.35%                                      

Loans in United States Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    36       36       36       36       18       106       268       0.07%       240  

Average interest rate

    1.11%       1.11%       1.11%       1.11%       0.68%       0.05%                    

Variable Rate Loan Amount

    12,084       13,140       38,577       218       14,522       115       78,656       20.95%       78,656  

Average interest rate

    3.53%       3.68%       3.78%       4.13%       3.62%       4.35%                    

Loans in Japanese Yen

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    17       4       3       3       3       7       37       0.01%       41  

Average interest rate

                                                     

Variable Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Loans in Hong Kong Dollar

                 

Variable Rate Loan Amount

          620                               620       0.17%       620  

Average interest rate

                                                     

Debentures in Canadian Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Variable Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Debentures in United States Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

                                                     

Average interest rate

                                                     

Debentures in RMB

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    16,000       3,230       2,000       31,000       2,000       15,000       69,230       18.44%       62,631  

Average interest rate

    4.47%       1.61%       4.30%             4.90%       4.12%                    

Medium term note in RMB

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

    20,000             20,000       15,000                   55,000       14.65%       50,333  

Average interest rate

    4.03%             3.85%       3.45%                                

Medium term note in United State Dollar

                 

Fixed Rate Loan Amount

                3,218                   3,218       6,436       1.71%       6,151  

Average interest rate

                2.89%                   3.76%                

Total

    85,536       59,800       75,029       59,432       39,858       55,739       375,394       100.00%       347,707  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Pricing and Exchange Rate”.

Commodity Price Risk

We are engaged in a wide range of petroleum-related activities and purchase certain quantity of oil from the international market to meet our demands. The prices of crude oil and refined products in the international market are affected by various factors such as changes in global and regional politics and economy, the demand and supply of crude oil and refined products, as well as unexpected events and disputes with international repercussions. The domestic crude oil price is determined with reference to the international price of crude oil whereby the domestic refined oil prices adjust with changes in crude oil prices in the international market. We

 

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use derivative instruments such as commodity futures, commodity swaps and commodity options to hedge some commodity price risks. We have strict internal control requirements with respect to the purpose, types, holding volumes of any derivative instruments as against the inventories, and the transaction process of the derivatives. Any derivative instruments we have are entered into solely for non-trading purposes. We do not expect any material market risks to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity exist as a result of entering into such derivatives. See “Item 3 — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Pricing and Exchange Rate”.

Item 12 — DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

Fees paid by our ADS holders

The Bank of New York Mellon, the depositary of our ADS program, collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or the deposited shares or provide any distributions until its fees for those services are paid.

 

Persons Depositing or Withdrawing Shares Must Pay:

  

For:

$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion thereof)

   Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property
   Cancelation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates

$0.5 (or less) per ADS (or portion thereof)

   Any cash distribution to ADS holders

$0.05 (or less) per ADS per calendar year

   Depositary services
A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs    Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities which are distributed by the depositary to ADS holders
Registration or transfer fees    Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares
Expenses of the depositary    Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement)
   Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars
Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian have to pay on any ADS or share underlying an ADS, for example, stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes    As necessary
Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities    As necessary

Fees and Payments from the Depositary to Us

In the year ended December 31, 2019, we received from the depositary a reimbursement of US$285,431.04, net of withholding tax, for our continuing annual stock exchange listing fees and our expenses incurred in connection with investor relationship programs. In addition, the depositary has agreed to reimburse us certain amount per year of the facility, including but not limited to, investor relations expenses or any other American depositary receipts program related expenses. The amount of such reimbursements is subject to certain limits.

 

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PART II

Item 13 — DEFAULTS, DIVIDENDS ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

None.

Item 14 — MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS TO SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

Item 15 — CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of the Management on Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our Chairman, president and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the United States Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, have concluded that, as of such date, our company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that material information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file and furnish under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and regulations and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our company’s management, including our principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our company’s management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, our company evaluated the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, our company’s management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2019.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.

The effectiveness of our company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 has been audited by KPMG Huazhen LLP, our company’s independent registered public accountants, as stated below.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors

PetroChina Company Limited:

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited PetroChina Company Limited and subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated

 

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Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated statements of financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated April 29, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ KPMG Huazhen LLP

Beijing, China

April 29, 2020

 

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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the year ended December 31, 2019, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 16A — AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Our audit committee is composed of two non-executive independent directors, Mr. Lin Boqiang and Mr. Zhang Biyi, and one non-executive director, Mr. Liu Yuezhen. See “Item 6 — Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Board Practices — Audit Committee”. Mr. Zhang Biyi, our non-executive independent director has been confirmed as a “financial expert” as defined in Item 16A of Form  20-F.

Item 16B — CODE OF ETHICS

We adopted our code of business conduct and ethics for senior management on March 23, 2004 and our code of business conduct and ethics for employees on March 2, 2005 and have disclosed the content of both codes on our website.

These two Codes of Ethics may be accessed as follows:

1. From our main web page, first click on “Investor Relations”.

2. Next, click on “Corporate Governance Structure”.

3. Finally, click on “Code of Ethics for Senior Management” or “Code of Ethics for Employees of PetroChina Company Limited”.

This 20-F also includes both of the codes as exhibit 11.1 and 11.2.

Item 16C — PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

KPMG Huazhen LLP served as our independent accountant for the fiscal years of 2018 and 2019. The office of KPMG Huazhen LLP is located at 8th Floor, KPMG Tower, Oriental Plaza, 1 East Chang An Avenue, Beijing, China.

The following table presents the aggregate fees paid by us (not including our subsidiaries) for professional audit services, tax and other services rendered by KPMG Huazhen LLP to us for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.

 

    December 31,  
    2018     2019  
    RMB in millions  

Audit fees

    53       53  

Audit-related fees

           

Tax fees

           

All other fees

           
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    53       53  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

The auditors’ remuneration above represented the annual fees paid by us for the years indicated. The remuneration did not include fees of RMB60 million (2018: RMB52 million) paid by our subsidiaries to KPMG Huazhen LLP and its network firms which primarily included audit fees of RMB50 million (2018: RMB43 million), audit-related fees of RMB7 million (2018: RMB6 million) and tax fees of RMB2 million (2018: RMB2 million), and other service fees of RMB1 million (2018: RMB1 million), respectively.

 

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Audit Committee Pre-approved Policies and Procedures

Currently, all audit services to be provided by our independent registered public accountant, KPMG Huazhen LLP, must be pre-approved by our audit committee.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, services relating to all non-audit related fees provided to us by KPMG Huazhen LLP were approved by our audit committee in accordance with the de minimis exception to the pre-approval requirement provided by paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

Item 16D — EXEMPTIONS FROM LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES

We rely on an exemption contained in paragraph (b)(1)(iv)(D) of Rule 10A-3 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, from the New York Stock Exchange listing requirement that each member of the audit committee of a listed issuer must be independent. Our single non-independent audit committee member, who is a representative of CNPC, is not a voting member, nor the chairman of the audit committee of our board of directors, which qualifies us for the exemption from the independence requirements available under paragraph (b)(1)(iv)(D) of Rule 10A-3. See “Item 6 — Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Board Practice — Audit Committee.” We believe our reliance on this exemption does not have any adverse effect on the ability of our audit committee to act independently.

Item 16E — PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

Not applicable.

Item 16F — CHANGE IN REGISTRANTS CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

Not applicable.

Item 16G — CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

We are incorporated under the laws of the PRC, with A Shares publicly traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, or the SSE, and H Shares publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, or the HKSE, and American Deposit Shares representing H Shares on the NYSE. As a result, our corporate governance framework is subject to the mandatory provisions of the PRC Company Law and the Corporate Governance Rules as well as the securities laws, regulations and the listing rules of Hong Kong and the United States.

The following discussion summarizes the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those that would apply to a U.S. domestic issuer under the NYSE corporate governance rules.

Director Independence

Under the NYSE corporate governance rule 303A.01, a listed company must have a majority of independent directors on its board of directors. A company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, a group or another company, or a controlled company, is not required to comply with this requirement. We are not required under the PRC Company Law and the HKSE Listing Rules to have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors. As of the date of this report, five of our 11 directors were independent non-executive directors.

Under the NYSE corporate governance rule 303A.03, the non-management directors of a listed company must meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. There are no mandatory requirements under the PRC Company Law and the HKSE Listing Rules that a listed company should hold, and we currently do not hold, such executive sessions.

 

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Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee

Under the NYSE corporate governance rule 303A.04, a listed company must have a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors, with a written charter that covers certain minimum specified duties, but a controlled company is not required to comply with this requirement. The Corporate Governance Code as amended by the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong provides that issuers shall establish a nominating committee, and a majority of which should be independent non-executive directors and the chairman shall be served by an independent non-executive director or the board chairman. We are not required under the PRC Company Law to have a nominating/corporate governance committee. We set up a nominating committee in August 2015, which consists of the chairman of our board of directors and two independent directors.

Compensation Committee

Under the NYSE corporate governance rule 303A.05, a listed company must have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors, with a written charter that covers certain minimum specified duties. A controlled company is not required to comply with this requirement. We are not required under the PRC Company Law to have a compensation committee. Under the Corporate Governance Code of the HKSE Listing Rules, a listed company must have a remuneration committee composed of a majority of independent non-executive directors, with a written term of references that covers certain minimum specified duties.

We currently do not have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. However, we have an evaluation and remuneration committee including a majority of independent non-executive directors.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Under the NYSE corporate governance rule 303A.09, a listed company must adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines that cover certain minimum specified subjects. We are not required under the PRC Company Law and the HKSE Listing Rules to have, and we do not currently have, formal corporate governance guidelines. However, we have the Articles of Association, the Rules and Procedures of Board of Directors and the Trial Implementation Rules for Compensation of Senior Management that address the following subjects:

 

   

director qualification standards and responsibilities;

 

   

key board committee responsibilities;

 

   

director compensation; and

 

   

director orientation and continuing education.

In 2009, we formulated the Administrative Measures on Independent Directors, the Administrative Rules on Holding of Company Shares by Directors, Supervisors and Senior Management, the Administrative Measures on Investor’s Relationship and the rules and procedures of the Audit Committee, the Performance Review and Compensation Committee, the Investment and Development Committee, and the Safety and Environmental Protection Committee. All these policies have further enhanced our corporate governance system and can ensure the better performance of duties of directors, supervisors, senior managers and committee members. In 2015, we set up a nominating committee and formulated the Rules of Procedures of the Nominating Committee. In 2017, we revised our articles of association according to relevant regulatory requirements. We added the cumulative voting provisions, and defined the role of the CPC’s core leadership in the articles of association. Our by-laws with respect to general meeting, board of directors and supervisory committee were also amended in line with the amendment to the articles. In 2018, we formulated the Corporate Guarantee Management Measures and revised the Measures for Registration of Insiders of Insider Information. In 2019, we formulated the Procedures of Appointment of Directors.

 

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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

Under the NYSE corporate governance rule 303A.10, a listed company must adopt and disclose its code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees, and promptly disclose any waivers of the code for directors or executive officers. See “Item 16B — Code of Ethics”. We are not required under the PRC Company Law and the HKSE Listing Rules to have, and we do not currently have, a code of business conduct and ethics for directors. However, pursuant to the HKSE Listing Rules, all of our directors must comply with the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Companies (the “Model Code”) as set out in the Listing Rules. The Model Code sets forth required standards with which the directors of a listed company must comply in securities transactions of the listed company.

CEO Certification Requirements

Under the NYSE corporate governance rule 303A.12(a), each listed company’s CEO must certify to the NYSE each year that he or she is not aware of any violation by the company of NYSE corporate governance listing standards. The PRC Company Law and the HKSE Listing Rules do not have such requirements. Our chairman performs the certification under the rule 303A.12(a).

Item 16H — MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 17 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We have elected to provide the financial statements and related information specified in Item 18 in lieu of Item 17.

Item 18 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

See page F-1 to F-79 following Item 19.

Item 19 — EXHIBITS

(a) See Item 18 for a list of the financial statements as part of this annual report.

(b) Exhibits to this annual report.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of
Exhibits

  1.1   Articles of Association (as amended on October  26, 2017) (English translation)(3)
  2.1*   A description of rights of each class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  4.1   Non-competition Agreement between CNPC and PetroChina (English translation)(1)
  4.2   Trademark Licensing Contract between CNPC and PetroChina (English translation)(1)
  4.3   Patent and Know-how Licensing Contract between CNPC and PetroChina (English translation)(1)
  4.4   Computer Software Licensing Contract between CNPC and PetroChina (English translation)(1)
  4.5   Contract for Transfer of Rights under Production Sharing Contracts between CNPC and PetroChina (English translation)(1)
  4.6   Contract for the Supervision of Certain Sales Enterprises between CNPC and PetroChina (English translation)(1)

 

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Exhibit
Number

 

Description of
Exhibits

  4.7   Comprehensive Products and Services Agreement, dated August 24, 2017, between CNPC and PetroChina(4)
  4.8   Land Lease Agreement, dated August 24, 2017, between CNPC and PetroChina(4)
  4.9   Building Lease Agreement, dated August 24, 2017, between CNPC and PetroChina(4)
  8.1*   List of major subsidiaries
11.1   Code of Ethics for Senior Management(2)
11.2   Code of Ethics for Employees(2)
12.1*   Certification of Chairman required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
12.2*   Certification of president required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
12.3*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.1*   Certification of Chairman required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.2*   Certification of president required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.3*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
15.1*   Reserves Report for the year ended on December 31, 2019 prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton
15.2*   Reserves Audit Report for the year ended on December 31, 2019 prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton
15.3*   Reserves Report for the year ended on December 31, 2019 prepared by Ryder Scott
15.4*   Reserves Report for the year ended on December 31, 2019 prepared by GLJ Petroleum Consultants
15.5*   Reserves Report for the year ended on December 31, 2019 prepared by McDaniel & Associates Consultants, Ltd.
15.6*   Consent Letter of Ryder Scott
101.INS*   XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

*

To be filed as exhibits to this Form 20-F.

(1)

Paper filing; incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-11566) filed with the Commission, as declared effective on March 29, 2000.

(2)

Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 (File No. 1-15006) filed with the Commission.

(3)

Incorporated by reference to our report on Form 6-K (File No. 1-15006) filed with the Commission on October 26, 2017.

(4)

Incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 (File No. 1-15006) filed with the Commission.

 

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SIGNATURE

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED
/s/Wu Enlai
Name: Wu Enlai
Title: Secretary to Board of Directors

Date: April 29, 2020

 

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INDEX OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page  

PetroChina Company Limited and its Subsidiaries

  

Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2  

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

     F-5  

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of December  31, 2019 and 2018

     F-6  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December  31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

     F-7  

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

     F-9  

Notes to the Financial Statements

     F-10  

Supplementary Information on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Activities (Unaudited)

     F-71  

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors

PetroChina Company Limited:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of PetroChina Company Limited and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by International Accounting Standards Board.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated April 29, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note 3(aa)(i) to the consolidated financial statements, the Group has changed its method of accounting for leases as of January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standard 16 “Leases”.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm(continued)

 

Assessment of impairment of oil and gas properties

The critical audit matter

   How the matter was addressed in our audit

As discussed in notes 3(f), 3(g), 5(b) and 15 to the consolidated financial statements, oil and gas properties as included in property, plant and equipment amounted to Renminbi (“RMB”)831,814 million as at December 31, 2019 and the impairment losses recognized for oil and gas properties for the year ended December 31, 2019 were RMB11,562 million.

 

The Company allocates oil and gas properties to separately identifiable cash-generating units (“CGUs”) and reviews these CGUs for possible impairment by considering events or changes in circumstances indicating that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Such events and changes in circumstances include the economic impact on these CGUs resulting from lower oil and gas prices, higher production costs and decline in oil and gas reserve volumes as estimated by the reserves specialists in accordance with recognized industry standards.

 

For those CGUs where an impairment indicator is identified, the Company compares the carrying amount of individual CGU with its recoverable amount, which is estimated by calculating the value in use using a discounted cash flow forecast, to determine the impairment loss to be recognized, if any.

 

We identified assessment of impairment of oil and gas properties as a critical audit matter because the recoverable amounts of these CGUs are sensitive to the changes to future selling prices and production costs for crude oil and natural gas; future production profiles; and discount rates and therefore a higher degree of subjective auditor judgment was required to evaluate the Company’s impairment assessment of oil and gas properties.

  

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following:

 

•  tested certain internal controls over the processes for impairment assessment of oil and gas properties;

 

•  evaluated the Company’s identification of CGUs, allocation of assets to the CGUs and identification of impairment indicators;

 

•  assessed the competence, capabilities and objectivity of the Company’s reserves specialists and evaluated the methodology adopted by them in estimating the oil and gas reserves against the recognized industry standards;

 

•  evaluated the future selling prices for crude oil and natural gas used in the discounted cash flow forecasts by comparing them with the Company’s business plans and forecasts by external analysts;

 

•  evaluated the future production costs and future production profiles used in the discounted cash flow forecasts by comparing them with oil and gas reserves reports issued by the reserves specialists;

 

•  involved our internal professionals with skills and knowledge on valuation to assist us in assessing the discount rates applied in the discounted cash flow forecasts against a discount rate range that was independently developed using publicly available market data for comparable companies in the same industry; and

 

•  compared the actual results for the current year with the Company’s forecasts prepared in the prior year to assess the historical accuracy of the Company’s forecasting process.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm(continued)

 

Assessment of impairment of goodwill resulting from the acquisition of PetroChina United Pipelines Company Limited

The critical audit matter

   How the matter was addressed in our audit

As discussed in notes 3(h), 5(c) and 20 to the consolidated financial statements, as at December 31, 2019, the carrying amount of the goodwill resulting from the acquisition of PetroChina United Pipelines Company Limited in 2015 (“the Pipeline Goodwill”) was RMB34,285 million.

 

The Company performs impairment assessment of the Pipeline Goodwill and compares the carrying value of the CGU containing the Pipeline Goodwill with its recoverable amount by calculating the value in use using a discounted cash flow forecast to determine if any impairment is required.

 

We identified assessment of impairment of the Pipeline Goodwill as a critical audit matter because the recoverable amount of the CGU containing the Pipeline Goodwill is sensitive to the changes to forecast transportation volume, transportation price and operating costs, and discount rate and therefore a higher degree of subjective auditor judgment was required to evaluate the Company’s impairment assessment of Pipeline Goodwill.

  

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following:

•  tested certain internal controls over the processes for impairment assessment of the Pipeline Goodwill;

 

•  evaluated the Company’s identification of CGU to which the Pipeline Goodwill was allocated and the allocation of other assets to that CGU;

 

•  evaluated the discounted cash flow forecast prepared by the Company by taking into account our understanding and knowledge of the pipeline industry, including comparing the forecast transportation volume with historical data and transportation capacity, comparing forecast operating costs with historical data and relevant budget and comparing the forecast transportation price with relevant government regulations;

 

•  involved our internal valuation professionals with specialized skills and knowledge to assist us in assessing the discount rate applied in the discounted cash flow forecasts against a discount rate range that was independently developed using publicly available market data for comparable companies in the same industry;

 

•  compared the forecast transportation volume, transportation price and operating costs included in the discounted cash flow forecast prepared in the prior year with the current year’s performance to assess historical accuracy of the Company’s forecasting process; and

 

•  evaluated the Company’s sensitivity analyses on the key assumptions adopted in the discounted cash flow forecast, including discount rate, operating costs and transportation volume, and the impact of changes in the key assumptions on the Company’s impairment assessment.

/s/ KPMG Huazhen LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2013.

Beijing, China

April 29, 2020

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

(Amounts in millions, except for the per share data)

 

     Notes      2019     2018Note     2017Note  
            RMB     RMB     RMB  

REVENUE

     6        2,516,810       2,374,934       2,032,298  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

         

Purchases, services and other

        (1,697,834     (1,553,784     (1,295,032

Employee compensation costs

     8        (154,318     (144,391     (125,703

Exploration expenses, including exploratory dry holes

        (20,775     (18,726     (23,884

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

        (225,262     (232,276     (237,807

Selling, general and administrative expenses

        (68,596     (74,477     (77,557

Taxes other than income taxes

     9        (228,436     (220,677     (200,704

Other income/(expenses) net

        173       (7,661     (775
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES

        (2,395,048     (2,251,992     (1,961,462
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

PROFIT FROM OPERATIONS

        121,762       122,942       70,836  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCE COSTS

         

Exchange gain

        10,017       12,701       8,252  

Exchange loss

        (10,016     (11,581     (9,436

Interest income

        3,631       3,779       2,912  

Interest expense

     10        (30,409     (22,718     (22,841
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL NET FINANCE COSTS

        (26,777     (17,819     (21,113
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

SHARE OF PROFIT OF ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES

        8,229       11,647       5,968  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     7        103,214       116,770       55,691  

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     12        (36,199     (42,790     (16,296
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

        67,015       73,980       39,395  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Item that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

         

Fair value changes in equity investment measured at fair value through other comprehensive income

        156       (201     —    

Items that are or may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

         

Currency translation differences

        8,357       (2,667     (431

Fair value loss from available-for-sale financial
assets, net of tax

        —         —         (608

Share of the other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method

        417       220       (326
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX

        8,930       (2,648     (1,365
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

        75,945       71,332       38,030  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR ATTRIBUTABLE TO:

         

Owners of the Company

        45,682       53,036       23,537  

Non-controlling interests

        21,333       20,944       15,858  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
            67,015     73,980     39,395  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ATTRIBUTABLE TO:

         

Owners of the Company

        50,323       48,072       24,424  

Non-controlling interests

        25,622       23,260       13,606  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
            75,945     71,332     38,030  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE COMPANY(RMB)

     13        0.25       0.29       0.13  
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

Note:

The comparative amounts in the financial statements are presented as if Dalian West Pacific Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (“Dalian West Pacific”) had been consolidated from the beginning of the earliest financial year presented (see Note 40). Furthermore, the Group has initially applied IFRS 16 at January 1, 2019 and IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 at January 1, 2018. Under the transition approaches chosen, the comparative information is not restated in this respect (see Note 3(aa)).

 

F-5


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018

(Amounts in millions)

 

     Notes      2019     2018Note  
            RMB     RMB  

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

       

Property, plant and equipment

     15        1,783,224       1,709,388  

Investments in associates and joint ventures

     16        102,073       89,362  

Equity investments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income

     17        922       738  

Advance operating lease payments

     19        —         78,240  

Right-of-use assets

     41        254,736       —    

Intangible and other non-current assets

     20        100,663       98,309  

Deferred tax assets

     31        24,259       23,498  

Time deposits with maturities over one year

        120       3,101  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

        2,265,997       2,002,636  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS

       

Inventories

     21        181,921       177,577  

Accounts receivable

     22        64,184       59,522  

Prepayments and other current assets

     23        103,127       89,345  

Notes receivable

     24        7,016       16,308  

Time deposits with maturities over three months but within one year

        24,256       9,535  

Cash and cash equivalents

     25        86,409       85,954  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

        466,913       438,241  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

       

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     26        328,314       299,848  

Contract liabilities

     27        82,490       68,144  

Income taxes payable

        7,564       5,728  

Other taxes payable

        59,818       77,560  

Short-term borrowings

     28        175,840       145,150  

Lease liabilities

     41        7,393       —    
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

        661,419       596,430  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CURRENT LIABILITIES

        (194,506     (158,189
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

        2,071,491       1,844,447  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

EQUITY

       

EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE COMPANY:

       

Share capital

     29        183,021       183,021  

Retained earnings

        743,124       731,163  

Reserves

     30        304,011       299,599  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE COMPANY

        1,230,156       1,213,783  

NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS

        214,149       195,108  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL EQUITY

        1,444,305       1,408,891  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

       

Long-term borrowings

     28        290,882       269,422  

Asset retirement obligations

     32        137,935       132,780  

Lease liabilities

     41        164,143       —    

Deferred tax liabilities

     31        21,411       17,015  

Other long-term obligations

        12,815       16,339  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

        627,186       435,556  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL EQUITY AND NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

        2,071,491       1,844,447  
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

Note:

The comparative amounts in the financial statements are presented as if the Dalian West Pacific had been consolidated from the beginning of the earliest financial year presented (see Note 40). Furthermore, the Group has initially applied IFRS 16 at January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. Under this approach chosen, the comparative information is not restated in this respect (see Note 3(aa)).

 

F-6


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

(Amounts in millions)

 

     2019     2018Note     2017Note  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

      

Profit for the year

     67,015       73,980       39,395  

Adjustments for:

      

Income tax expense

     36,199       42,790       16,296  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     225,262       232,276       237,807  

Capitalized exploratory costs charged to expense

     8,900       8,579       9,455  

Safety fund reserve

     (1,318     608       327  

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures

     (8,229     (11,647     (5,968

(Reversal)/accrual of provision for impairment of receivables, net

     (1,367     15       3,254  

Write down in inventories, net

     1,260       4,230       1,069  

Impairment of other non-current assets

     22       77       3,784  

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     9,809       16,761       4,963  

Gain on disposal of other non-current assets

     (501     (501     (108

Gain on disposal of subsidiaries

     (49     (45     (613

Dividend income

     (22     (52     —    

Interest income

     (3,631     (3,779     (2,912

Interest expense

     30,409       22,718       22,841  

Changes in working capital:

      

Accounts receivable, prepayments and other current assets

     (5,017     (9,280     (3,876

Inventories

     (5,624     (34,705     437  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     27,416       49,127       65,624  

Contract liabilities

     14,346       892       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS

     394,880       392,044       391,775  

Income taxes paid

     (35,270     (38,788     (23,046
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     359,610       353,256       368,729  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F-7


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

(Amounts in millions)

 

     2019     2018Note     2017Note  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

      

Capital expenditures

     (319,686     (267,310     (229,492

Acquisition of investments in associates and joint ventures

     (4,326     (2,911     (3,901

Acquisition of equity investments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income

     —         (2     —    

Acquisition of available-for-sale financial assets

     —         —         (16

Prepayments on long-term leases

     (3,820     (3,856     (3,928

Acquisition of intangible assets and other non-current assets

     (3,256     (4,668     (3,839

Acquisition of subsidiaries

     (183     —         —    

Payments to non-controlling interests due to acquisition of subsidiaries

     —         —         (1,106

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

     1,830       1,616       1,146  

Proceeds from disposal of other non-current assets

     507       224       921  

Interest received

     2,860       2,963       2,238  

Dividends received

     4,865       5,438       7,181  

(Increase)/decrease in time deposits with maturities over three months

     (11,739     694       (12,994
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CASH FLOWS USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     (332,948     (267,812     (243,790
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

      

Repayments of short-term borrowings

     (614,525     (646,396     (585,660

Repayments of long-term borrowings

     (171,226     (123,745     (198,984

Repayments of lease liabilities

     (17,623     —         —    

Interest paid

     (16,830     (19,392     (20,026

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

     (14,245     (15,207     (12,621

Dividends paid to owners of the Company

     (30,684     (27,369     (19,626

Cash paid to acquire non-controlling interests

     (1,059     —         —    

Capital reduction of subsidiaries

     (182     (86     (17

Increase in short-term borrowings

     634,896       615,781       610,808  

Increase in long-term borrowings

     201,562       88,500       128,390  

Cash contribution from non-controlling interests

     2,640       2,211       1,470  

Decrease in other long-term obligations

     —         —         (480
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CASH FLOWS USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     (27,276     (125,703     (96,746
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TRANSLATION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY

     1,069       2,513       (3,551
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     455       (37,746     24,642  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

     85,954       123,700       99,058  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

     86,409       85,954       123,700  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

Note:

The comparative amounts in the financial statements are presented as if the Dalian West Pacific had been consolidated from the beginning of the earliest financial year presented (see Note 40). Furthermore, the Group has initially applied IFRS 16 at January 1, 2019 and IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 at January 1, 2018. Under the transition approaches chosen, the comparative information is not restated in this respect (see Note 3(aa)).

 

F-8


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

(Amounts in millions)

 

     Attributable to owners of the Company     Non-
controlling
Interests
    Total
Equity
 
     Share
Capital
     Retained
Earnings
    Reserves     Subtotal              
     RMB      RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Balance at January 1, 2017, as previously reported

     183,021        711,197       294,806       1,189,024       183,711       1,372,735  

Adjusted for the acquisition of Dalian West Pacific (Note 40)

     —          (2,203     516       (1,687     (4,246     (5,933
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2017, as adjustedNote

     183,021        708,994       295,322       1,187,337       179,465       1,366,802  

Profit for the year ended December 31, 2017

     —          23,537       —         23,537       15,858       39,395  

Other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2017

     —          —         887       887       (2,252     (1,365

Special reserve-safety fund reserve

     —          —         178       178       149       327  

Transfer to reserves

     —          (1,929     1,929       —         —         —    

Dividends

     —          (19,626     —         (19,626     (10,404     (30,030

Transaction with non-controlling interests in subsidiaries

     —          —         289       289       649       938  

Capital contribution from non-controlling interests

     —          —         —         —         2,584       2,584  

Other

     —          (3     (27     (30     (633     (663
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2017

     183,021        710,973       298,578       1,192,572       185,416       1,377,988  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2018

     183,021        710,973       298,578       1,192,572       185,416       1,377,988  

Profit for the year ended December 31, 2018

     —          53,036       —         53,036       20,944       73,980  

Other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2018

     —          —         (4,964     (4,964     2,316       (2,648

Special reserve-safety fund reserve

     —          —         465       465       143       608  

Transfer to reserves

     —          (5,476     5,476             —         —    

Dividends

     —          (27,369     —         (27,369     (15,423     (42,792

Transaction with non-controlling interests in subsidiaries

     —          —         13       13       (24     (11

Capital contribution from non-controlling interests

     —          —         —         —         2,300       2,300  

Disposal of subsidiaries

     —          —         —         —         (879     (879

Other

     —          (1     31       30       315       345  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

     183,021        731,163       299,599       1,213,783       195,108       1,408,891  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2019

     183,021        731,163       299,599       1,213,783       195,108       1,408,891  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Profit for the year ended December 31, 2019

     —          45,682       —         45,682       21,333       67,015  

Other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2019

     —          —         4,641       4,641       4,289       8,930  

Special reserve-safety fund reserve

     —          —         (1,388     (1,388     70       (1,318

Transfer to reserves

     —          (3,037     3,037       —         —         —    

Dividends

     —          (30,684     —         (30,684     (14,279     (44,963

Transaction with non-controlling interests in subsidiaries

     —          —         (2,007     (2,007     938       (1,069

Capital contribution from non-controlling interests

     —          —         120       120       6,647       6,767  

Disposal of subsidiaries

     —          —         —         —         (50     (50

Other

     —          —         9       9       93       102  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

     183,021        743,124       304,011       1,230,156       214,149       1,444,305  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

Note:

The comparative amounts in the financial statements are presented as if the Dalian West Pacific had been consolidated from the beginning of the earliest financial year presented (see Note 40). Furthermore, the Group has initially applied IFRS 16 at January 1, 2019 and IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 at January 1, 2018. Under the transition approaches chosen, the comparative information is not restated in this respect (see Note 3(aa)).

 

F-9


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

1

ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

PetroChina Company Limited (the “Company”) was established as a joint stock company with limited liability on November 5, 1999 by 中国石油天然气集团公司(China National Petroleum Corporation (“CNPC”)) as the sole proprietor in accordance with the approval Guo Jing Mao Qi Gai [1999] No. 1024 “Reply on the approval of the establishment of PetroChina Company Limited” from the former State Economic and Trade Commission of the People’s Republic of China (“China” or “PRC”). CNPC restructured (“the Restructuring”) and injected its core business and the related assets and liabilities into the Company. 中国石油天然气集团公司 was renamed中国石油天然气集团有限公司(CNPC before and after the change of name) on December 19, 2017. CNPC is a wholly state-owned company registered in China. The Company and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Group”.

The Group is principally engaged in (i) the exploration, development and production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas; (ii) the refining of crude oil and petroleum products, production and marketing of primary petrochemical products, derivative petrochemical products and other chemical products; (iii) the marketing of refined products and trading business; and (iv) the transmission of natural gas, crude oil and refined products and the sale of natural gas (Note 38).

 

2

BASIS OF PREPARATION

The consolidated financial statements and the statement of financial position of the Company have been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). The consolidated financial statements and the statement of financial position of the Company have been prepared under the historical cost convention except as disclosed in the accounting policies below.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRSs requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the statement of financial position and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions, actual results may ultimately differ from those estimates. The areas involving a higher degree of judgment or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in Note 5.

 

3

SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a) Basis of consolidation

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has right to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.

A subsidiary is consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group and is no longer consolidated from the date that control ceases. The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries except for business combinations under common control. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred and the equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at

 

F-10


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

their fair values at the acquisition date. Contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are recognized in the acquisition accounting if they are present obligations and their fair value can be measured reliably. On an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, the Group recognizes any non-controlling interests in the acquiree either at fair value or at the non-controlling interests’ proportionate share of the acquiree’s net assets.

The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the identifiable net assets is recorded as goodwill. If this is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired in the case of a bargain purchase, the difference is recognized directly in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

An acquisition of a business which is a business combination under common control is accounted for in a manner similar to a uniting of interests whereby the assets and liabilities acquired are accounted for at carryover predecessor values to the other party to the business combination with all periods presented as if the operations of the Group and the business acquired have always been combined. The difference between the consideration paid by the Group and the net assets or liabilities of the business acquired is adjusted against equity.

Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated. Unrealized losses are eliminated in the same way as unrealized gains, but only to the extent that there is no evidence of impairment. Where necessary, accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

For purpose of the presentation of the Company’s statement of financial position, investments in subsidiaries are accounted for at cost less impairment.

A listing of the Group’s principal subsidiaries is set out in Note 18.

(b) Investments in associates

Associates are entities over which the Group has significant influence but not control, generally accompanying a shareholding of between 20% and 50% of the voting rights. Investments in associates are accounted for by the equity method of accounting in the consolidated financial statements of the Group and are initially recognized at cost.

Under this method of accounting, the Group’s share of the post-acquisition profits or losses of associates is recognized in profit or loss and its share of post-acquisition movements in other comprehensive income is recognized in other comprehensive income. The cumulative post-acquisition movements are adjusted against the carrying amounts of the investments. When the Group’s share of losses in an associate equals or exceeds its interest in the associate, including any other unsecured receivables, the Group does not recognize further losses, unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate.

Unrealized gains on transactions between the Group and its associates are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in the associates; unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. The Group’s investment in associates includes goodwill identified on acquisition, net of any accumulated impairment loss and is tested for impairment as part of the overall balance. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the fair value of net identifiable assets of the acquired associate at the date of acquisition. Accounting policies of associates have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

A listing of the Group’s principal associates is shown in Note 16.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(c) Investments in joint ventures

Joint ventures are arrangements in which the Group with one or more parties have joint control, whereby the Group has rights to the net assets of the arrangements, rather than rights to their assets and obligations for their liabilities. The Group’s interests in joint ventures are accounted for by the equity method of accounting (Note 3(b)) in the consolidated financial statements.

A listing of the Group’s principal joint ventures is shown in Note 16.

(d) Transactions with non-controlling interests

Transactions with non-controlling interests are treated as transactions with owners in their capacity as owners of the Group. Gains and losses resulting from disposals to non-controlling interests are recorded in equity. The differences between any consideration paid and the relevant share of the carrying value of net assets of the subsidiary acquired resulting from the purchase of non-controlling interests, are recorded in equity.

When the Group ceases to have control or significant influence, any retained interest in the entity is remeasured to its fair value, with the change in carrying amount recognized in profit or loss. The fair value is the initial carrying amount for the purposes of subsequently accounting for the retained interest as an associate, joint venture or financial asset. In addition, any amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income in respect of that entity are accounted for as if the Group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities. The amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss.

If the ownership interest in an associate is reduced but significant influence is retained, only a proportionate share of the amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss where appropriate.

(e) Foreign currencies

Items included in the financial statements of each entity in the Group are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (“the functional currency”). Most assets and operations of the Group are located in the PRC (Note 38), and the functional currency of the Company and most of the consolidated subsidiaries is the Renminbi (“RMB”). The consolidated financial statements are presented in the presentation currency of RMB.

Foreign currency transactions of the Group are accounted for at the exchange rates prevailing at the respective dates of the transactions; monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at exchange rates at the date of the statement of financial position; gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities are recognized in profit or loss.

For the Group entities that have a functional currency different from the Group’s presentation currency, assets and liabilities for each statement of financial position presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of the statement of financial position. Income and expenses for each statement of comprehensive income presented are translated at the average exchange rates for each period and the resulting exchange differences are recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(f) Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment, including oil and gas properties (Note 3(g)), are initially recorded in the consolidated statement of financial position at cost if it is probable that they will generate future economic benefits. Cost represents the purchase price of the asset and other costs incurred to bring the asset into intended use. Subsequent to their initial recognition, property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization (including any impairment).

Depreciation, to write off the cost of each asset, other than oil and gas properties (Note 3(g)), to their residual values over their estimated useful lives is calculated using the straight-line method.

The Group uses the following estimated useful lives, estimated residual value ratios and annual depreciation rates for depreciation purposes:

 

     Estimated useful lives      Estimated residual
value ratio %
     Annual depreciation
rate %
 

Buildings

     8 to 40 years        5        2.4 to 11.9  

Equipment and Machinery

     4 to 30 years        3 to 5        3.2 to 24.3  

Motor Vehicles

     4 to 14 years        5        6.8 to 23.8  

Other

     5 to 12 years        5        7.9 to 19.0  

No depreciation is provided on construction in progress until the assets are completed and ready for use.

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.

Property, plant and equipment, including oil and gas properties (Note 3(g)) and right-of-use assets (Note 3(k)), are reviewed for possible impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of a cash-generating unit exceeds the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. Value in use is the estimated net present value of future cash flows to be derived from the cash-generating unit.

Gains and losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment are determined by reference to their carrying amounts and are recorded in profit or loss.

Interest and other costs on borrowings to finance the construction of property, plant and equipment, including oil and gas properties (Note 3(g)), are capitalized during the period of time that is required to complete and prepare the asset for its intended use. Costs for repairs and maintenance activities are expensed as incurred except for costs of components that result in improvements or betterments which are capitalized as part of property, plant and equipment and depreciated over their useful lives.

(g) Oil and gas properties

The successful efforts method of accounting is used for oil and gas exploration and production activities. Under this method, all costs for development wells, support equipment and facilities, and proved mineral interests in oil and gas properties are capitalized. Geological and geophysical costs are expensed when incurred. Costs of exploratory wells are capitalized pending determination of whether the wells find proved oil and gas reserves. Proved oil and gas reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil and natural gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulation before the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether the estimate is a deterministic estimate or probabilistic estimate. Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price shall be the average price during the 12-month period before the ending date of the period covered by the proved oil and gas reserve report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions. The costs shall be that prevailing at the end of the period.

Exploratory wells in areas not requiring major capital expenditures are evaluated for economic viability within one year of completion of drilling. The related well costs are expensed as dry holes if it is determined that such economic viability is not attained. Otherwise, the related well costs are reclassified to oil and gas properties and are subject to impairment review (Note 3(f)). For exploratory wells that are found to have economically viable reserves in areas where major capital expenditure will be required before production can commence, the related well costs remain capitalized only if additional drilling is underway or firmly planned. Otherwise the related well costs are expensed as dry holes. The Group does not have any significant costs of unproved properties capitalized in oil and gas properties.

The Ministry of Natural Resources in China issues production licenses to applicants on the basis of the reserve reports approved by relevant authorities.

The cost of oil and gas properties is amortized at the field level based on the units of production method. Units of production rates are based on oil and gas reserves estimated to be recoverable from existing facilities based on the current terms of the Group’s production licenses.

(h) Intangible assets and goodwill

Expenditures on acquired patents, trademarks, technical know-how and licenses are capitalized at historical cost and amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets are not subsequently revalued. The carrying amount of each intangible asset is reviewed and adjusted for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized whenever the carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds its recoverable amount and is recognized in profit or loss. The recoverable amount is measured as the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. Value in use is the estimated net present value of future cash flows to be derived from the asset.

Goodwill arises on the acquisition of subsidiaries and represents the excess of the consideration transferred over the net fair value of identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the acquiree and the amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree.

Goodwill impairment reviews are undertaken annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of the cash-generating unit containing goodwill exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment losses are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the cash-generating unit, and then to reduce the carrying amounts of the other assets in the cash-generating unit on a pro rata basis. Any impairment is recognized immediately as an expense and is not subsequently reversed.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(i) Financial instruments

(a) Recognition and initial measurement

Accounts receivable and debt securities issued are initially recognized when they are originated. All other financial assets and financial liabilities are initially recognized when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

A financial asset (unless it is an accounts receivable without a significant financing component) or financial liability is initially measured at fair value plus, for an item not at Fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”), transaction costs that are directly attributable to its acquisition or issue. An accounts receivable without a significant financing component is initially measured at the transaction price.

(b) Classification and subsequent measurement

Financial assets – Policy applicable from January 1, 2018

On initial recognition, a financial asset is classified as measured at: amortized cost; Fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”) – debt investment; FVOCI – equity investment; or FVTPL.

Financial assets are not reclassified subsequent to their initial recognition unless the Group changes its business model for managing financial assets, in which case all affected financial assets are reclassified on the first day of the first reporting period following the change in the business model.

A financial asset is measured at amortized cost if it meets both of the following conditions and is not designated as at FVTPL:

 

   

it is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets to collect contractual cashflows; and

 

   

its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.

A debt investment is measured at FVOCI if it meets both of the following conditions and is not designated as at FVTPL:

 

   

it is held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets; and

 

   

its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.

On initial recognition of an equity investment that is not held for trading, the Group may irrevocably elect to present subsequent changes in the investment’s fair value in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). This election is made on an investment-by-investment basis.

All financial assets not classified as measured at amortized cost or FVOCI as described above are measured at FVTPL. This includes all derivative financial assets.

The Group makes an assessment of the objective of the business model in which a financial asset is held at a portfolio level because this best reflects the way the business is managed and information is provided to management.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

For the purposes of this assessment whether contractual cash flows are solely payments of principal and interest, “principal” is defined as the fair value of the financial asset on initial recognition. “Interest” is defined as consideration for the time value of money and for the credit risk associated with the principal amount outstanding during a particular period of time and for other basic lending risks and costs (e.g. liquidity risk and administrative costs), as well as a profit margin.

In assessing whether the contractual cash flows are solely payments of principal and interest, the Group considers the contractual terms of the instrument. This includes assessing whether the financial asset contains a contractual term that could change the timing or amount of contractual cash flows such that it would not meet this condition.

Detailed accounting policies for subsequent measurement of financial assets are set out below:

 

Financial assets at FVTPL    These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Net gains and losses, including any interest or dividend income, are recognized in profit or loss.
Financial assets at amortized cost    These assets are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The amortized cost is reduced by impairment losses. Interest income, foreign exchange gains and losses and impairment are recognized in profit or loss. Any gain or loss on derecognition is recognized in profit or loss.
Debt investments at FVOCI    These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Interest income calculated using the effective interest method, foreign exchange gains and losses and impairment are recognized in profit or loss. Other net gains and losses are recognized in OCI. On derecognition, gains and losses accumulated in OCI are reclassified to profit or loss.
Equity investments at FVOCI    These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Dividends are recognized as income in profit or loss unless the dividend clearly represents a recovery of part of the cost of the investment. Other net gains and losses are recognized in OCI and are never reclassified to profit or loss.

Financial assets – Policy applicable before January 1, 2018

Financial assets are classified into the following categories: financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, held-to-maturity investments, loans and receivables and available-for-sale financial assets. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition. The Group has principally loans and receivables and available-for-sale financial assets and limited financial assets at fair value through profit or loss.

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They are included in current assets, except for those with maturities greater than 12 months after the date of the statement of financial position, which are classified as non-current assets.

Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivatives that are either designated in this category or not classified in any of the other categories; these are included in non-current assets unless management intends to dispose of the investment within 12 months of the date of the statement of financial position.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are financial assets held for trading. A financial asset is classified in this category if acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the short-term. Derivatives are also categorized as held for trading unless they are designated as hedges. Assets in this category are classified as current assets if expected to be settled within 12 months; otherwise, they are classified as non-current.

Regular purchases and sales of financial assets are recognized on the trade-date, the date on which the Group commits to purchase or sell the asset. Investments are initially recognized at fair value plus transaction costs for all financial assets not carried at fair value through profit or loss. Financial assets carried at fair value through profit or loss are initially recognized at fair value, and transaction costs are expensed in profit or loss.

Available-for-sale financial assets are measured at fair value except where there are no quoted market prices in active markets and the fair values cannot be reliably measured using valuation techniques. Available-for-sale financial assets that do not have quoted market prices in active markets and whose fair value cannot be reliably measured are carried at cost. Changes in the fair value of monetary and non-monetary securities classified as available for sale are recognized in OCI. Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are subsequently carried at fair value. Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of the “financial assets at fair value through profit or loss” category are presented in the statement of comprehensive income within “other income, net” in the period in which they arise.

(c) Derecognition

Financial assets

The Group derecognizes a financial asset when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire, or it transfers the rights to receive the contractual cash flows in a transaction in which substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset are transferred or in which the Group neither transfers nor retains substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership and it does not retain control of the financial asset.

The Group enters into transactions whereby it transfers assets recognized in its consolidated statement of financial position, but retains either all or substantially all of the risks and rewards of the transferred assets. In these cases, the transferred assets are not derecognized.

Financial liabilities

The Group derecognizes a financial liability when its contractual obligations are discharged or cancelled, or expire. The Group also derecognizes a financial liability when its terms are modified and the cash flows of the modified liability are substantially different, in which case a new financial liability based on the modified terms is recognized at fair value.

On derecognition of a financial liability, the difference between the carrying amount extinguished and the consideration paid (including any non-cash assets transferred or liabilities assumed) is recognized in profit or loss.

(d) Offsetting

Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net amount presented in the consolidated statement of financial position when, and only when, the Group currently has a legally enforceable right to set off the amounts and it intends either to settle them on a net basis or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(j) Impairment for financial assets

Policy applicable from January 1, 2018

The Group recognizes loss allowances for expected credit losses (“ECLs”) on:

 

   

financial assets measured at amortized cost;

 

   

debt investments measured at FVOCI; and

 

   

contract assets.

The Group measures loss allowances at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs, except for the financial assets for which credit risk (i.e. the risk of default occurring over the expected life of the financial instrument) has not increased significantly since initial recognition, which are measured as 12-month ECLs. When determining whether the credit risk of a financial asset has increased significantly since initial recognition and when estimating ECLs, the Group considers reasonable and supportable information that is relevant and available without undue cost or effort.

Loss allowances for accounts receivable are always measured at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs. The maximum period considered when estimating ECLs is the maximum contractual period over which the Group is exposed to credit risk.

ECLs are a probability-weighted estimate of credit losses. Credit losses are measured as the present value of all cash shortfalls (i.e. the difference between the cash flows due to the Group in accordance with the contract and the cash flows that the Group expects to receive). ECLs are discounted at the effective interest rate of the financial asset.

At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether financial assets carried at amortized cost and debt securities at FVOCI are credit-impaired. A financial asset is ‘credit-impaired’ when one or more events that have a detrimental impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset have occurred.

Loss allowances for financial assets measured at amortized cost are deducted from the gross carrying amount of the assets. Impairment losses on trade and other receivables are presented under ‘Selling, general and administrative expenses’, similar to the presentation under IAS 39.

The gross carrying amount of a financial asset is written off when the Group has no reasonable expectations of recovering a financial asset in its entirety or a portion thereof. For customers, the Group individually makes an assessment with respect to the timing and amount of write-off based on whether there is a reasonable expectation of recovery. The Group expects no significant recovery from the amount written off. However, financial assets that are written off could still be subject to enforcement activities in order to comply with the Group’s procedures for recovery of amounts due.

Policy applicable before January 1, 2018

The Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset is impaired. The amount of the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the carrying amount of the available-for-sale financial asset and the present value of the estimated cash flows. For accounts receivable, the provision of impairment is established if there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect amount due according to the original terms of the receivables. The factors the Group considers when assessing whether an accounts receivable is impaired include but are not limited to significant financial

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

difficulties of the customer, probability that the debtor will enter bankruptcy or financial reorganization and default or delinquency in payments. The amount of the provision is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the original effective interest rate.

(k) Leases

The Group has applied IFRS 16“Lease” (“IFRS 16”) using the modified retrospective approach and therefore the comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under IAS 17“Lease” (“IAS 17”) and IFRIC 4“Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease” (“IFRIC 4”). The details of accounting policies under IAS 17 and IFRIC 4 are disclosed separately.

Policy applicable from January 1, 2019

At inception of a contract, the Group assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. To assess whether a contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset, the Group uses the definition of a lease in IFRS 16. Payments made to the Ministry of Natural Resources to secure land use rights (excluding mineral properties) are treated as leases.

This policy is applied to contracts entered into, on or after January 1, 2019.

(a) As a lessee

At commencement or on modification of a contract that contains a lease component, the Group allocates the consideration in the contract to each lease component on the basis of its relative stand-alone prices.

The Group recognizes a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date. The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred and an estimate of costs to dismantle and remove the underlying asset or to restore the underlying asset or the site on which it is located, less any lease incentives received.

The right-of-use asset is subsequently depreciated using the straight-line method from the commencement date to the end of the lease term, unless the lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the Group by the end of the lease term or the cost of the right-of-use asset reflects that the Group will exercise a purchase option. In that case the right-of-use asset will be depreciated over the useful life of the underlying asset, which is determined on the same basis as those of property and equipment. In addition, the right-of-use asset is periodically reduced by impairment losses, if any, and adjusted for certain remeasurements of the lease liability.

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at the commencement date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the Group’s incremental borrowing rate. Generally, the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability comprise the following:

 

   

fixed payments, including in-substance fixed payments;

 

   

variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, initially measured using the index or rate as at the commencement date;

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

   

amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee; and

 

   

the exercise price under a purchase option that the Group is reasonably certain to exercise, lease payments in an optional renewal period if the Group is reasonably certain to exercise an extension option, and penalties for early termination of a lease unless the Group is reasonably certain not to terminate early.

The lease liability is measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. It is remeasured when there is a change in future lease payments arising from a change in an index or rate, if there is a change in the Group’s estimate of the amount expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee, if the Group changes its assessment of whether it will exercise a purchase, extension or termination option or if there is a revised in-substance fixed lease payment.

When the lease liability is remeasured in this way, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset, or is recorded in profit or loss if the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset has been reduced to zero.

The Group present right-of-use assets and lease liabilities separately in the statement of financial position.

The Group has elected not to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for leases of low-value assets and short-term leases. The Group recognizes the lease payments associated with these leases as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

(b) As a lessor

At inception or on modification of a contract that contains a lease component, the Group allocates the consideration in the contract to each lease component on the basis of their relative stand-alone prices.

When the Group acts as a lessor, it determines at lease inception whether each lease is a finance lease or an operating lease.

To classify each lease, the Group makes an overall assessment of whether the lease transfers substantially all of the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset. If this is the case, then the lease is a finance lease; if not, then it is an operating lease. As part of this assessment, the Group considers certain indicators such as whether the lease is for the major part of the economic life of the asset. There are no significant finance lease for the Group.

If an arrangement contains lease and non-lease components, then the Group applies IFRS 15 to allocate the consideration in the contract.

The Group recognizes lease payments received under operating leases as income on a straight-line basis over the lease term as part of “other revenue”.

Generally, the accounting policies applicable to the Group as a lessor in the comparative period were not different from IFRS 16 except for the classification of the sub-lease entered into during current reporting period that resulted in a finance lease classification.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Policy applicable before January 1, 2019

Leases of property, plant and equipment where the Group assumes substantially all the benefits and risks of ownership are classified as finance leases. The Group has no significant finance leases.

Leases of assets under which a significant portion of the risks and benefits of ownership are effectively retained by the lessors are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessors) are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease terms. Payments made to the Ministry of Natural Resources to secure land use rights (excluding mineral properties) are treated as operating leases. Land use rights are generally obtained through advance lump-sum payments and the terms of use range up to 50 years.

(l) Inventories

Inventories include oil products, chemical products and materials and supplies which are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost is primarily determined by the weighted average cost method. The cost of finished goods comprises raw materials, direct labor, other direct costs and related production overheads, but excludes borrowing costs. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the cost of completion and directly attributable marketing and distribution costs.

(m) Contract costs

Contract costs are either the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer or the costs to fulfil a contract with a customer which are not capitalized as inventory (Note 3(l)), property, plant and equipment (Note 3(f)), oil and gas properties (Note 3(g)) or intangible assets (Note 3(h)).

Incremental costs of obtaining a contract are those costs that the Group incurs to obtain a contract with a customer that it would not have incurred if the contract had not been obtained. Incremental costs of obtaining a contract are capitalized when incurred if the costs relate to revenue which will be recognized in a future reporting period and the costs are expected to be recovered, unless the expected amortization period is one year or less from the date of initial recognition of the asset, in which case the costs are expensed when incurred. Other costs of obtaining a contract are expensed when incurred.

Costs to fulfil a contract are capitalized if the costs relate directly to an existing contract or to a specifically identifiable anticipated contract; generate or enhance resources that will be used to provide goods or services in the future; and are expected to be recovered.

Capitalized contract costs are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment losses. Impairment losses are recognized to the extent that the carrying amount of the contract cost asset exceeds the net of (i) remaining amount of consideration that the Group expects to receive in exchange for the goods or services to which the asset relates, less (ii) any costs that relate directly to providing those goods or services that have not yet been recognized as expenses.

Amortization of capitalized contract costs is charged to profit or loss when the revenue to which the asset relates is recognized.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(n) Contract assets and contract liabilities

A contract asset is recognized when the Group recognizes revenue before being unconditionally entitled to the consideration under the payment terms set out in the contract. Contract assets are assessed for ECLs in accordance with the policy set out in Note 3(j) and are reclassified to receivables when the right to the consideration has become unconditional (Note 3(o)).

A contract liability is recognized when the customer pays consideration before the Group recognizes the related revenue. A contract liability would also be recognized if the Group has an unconditional right to receive consideration before the Group recognizes the related revenue. In such cases, a corresponding receivable would also be recognized (Note 3(o)).

When the contract includes a significant financing component, the contract balance includes interest accrued under the effective interest method (Note 3(t)).

(o) Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are recognized when the Group has an unconditional right to receive consideration. A right to receive consideration is unconditional if only the passage of time is required before payment of that consideration is due (Note 3(n)).

Receivables are stated at amortized cost using the effective interest method less allowance for credit losses (Note 3(j)).

(p) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand, deposits held with banks and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the time of purchase.

(q) Accounts payable

Accounts payable are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost unless the effect of discounting would be immaterial, in which case they are stated at cost.

(r) Borrowings

Borrowings are recognized initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. In subsequent periods, borrowings are stated at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

General and specific borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets, which are assets that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use or sale, are added to the cost of those assets, until such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use or sale.

All other borrowing costs are recognized in profit or loss in the period in which they are incurred.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has unconditional rights to defer settlements of the liabilities for at least 12 months after the reporting period.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(s) Share capital

Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of ordinary shares are recognized as a deduction from equity. Income tax relating to transaction costs of an equity transaction is accounted for in accordance with IAS 12 “Income Taxes”.

(t) Interest income and interest expense

Interest income or expense is recognized using the effective interest method.

The “effective interest rate” is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments or receipts through the expected life of the financial instrument to:

 

   

the gross carrying amount of the financial asset; or

 

   

the amortized cost of the financial liability.

In calculating interest income and expense, the effective interest rate is applied to the gross carrying amount of the asset (when the asset is not credit-impaired) or to the amortized cost of the liability. However, for financial assets that have become credit-impaired subsequent to initial recognition, interest income is calculated by applying the effective interest rate to the amortized cost of the financial asset. If the asset is no longer credit-impaired, then the calculation of interest income reverts to the gross basis.

(u) Taxation

Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. It is recognized in profit or loss except to the extent that it relates to a business combination, or items recognized directly in equity or in other comprehensive income.

The Group has determined that interest and penalties related to income taxes, including uncertain tax treatments, do not meet the definition of income taxes, and therefore accounted for them under IAS 37 “Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets”.

(a) Current tax

Current tax comprises the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable income or loss for the year and any adjustment to the tax payable or receivable in respect of previous years. The amount of current tax payable or receivable is the best estimate of the tax amount expected to be paid or received that reflects uncertainty related to income taxes, if any. It is measured using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date. Current tax also includes any tax arising from dividends.

Current tax assets and liabilities are offset only if certain criteria are met.

(b) Deferred tax

Deferred tax is provided in full, using the liability method, for temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying values in the financial statements. However, deferred tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred tax is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the date of the statement of financial position and are expected to apply to the period when the related deferred tax asset is realized or deferred tax liability is settled, and reflects uncertainty related to income taxes, if any.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

The principal temporary differences arise from depreciation on oil and gas properties and equipment and provision for impairment of receivables, inventories, investments and property, plant and equipment. Deferred tax assets relating to the carry forward of unused tax losses and deductible temporary differences are recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable income will be available against which they can be used.

(c) Taxes other than income tax

The Group also incurs various other taxes and levies that are not income taxes. “Taxes other than income taxes”, which form part of operating expenses, primarily comprise consumption tax (Note 9), resource tax (Note 9), crude oil special gain levy (Note 9), urban construction tax and education surcharges.

(v) Revenue recognition

Income is classified by the Group as revenue when it arises from the sale of goods, the provision of services in the ordinary course of the Group’s business.

Revenue is recognized when control over a product or service is transferred to the customer at the amount of promised consideration to which the Group is expected to be entitled, excluding those amounts collected on behalf of third parties. Revenue excludes value added tax or other sales taxes and is after deduction of any trade discounts.

Where the contract contains a financing component more than 12 months, interest income is accrued or interest expense is accrued separately under the effective interest method. The Group does not adjust the consideration for any effects of a significant financing component if the period of financing is 12 months or less.

(w) Provisions

Provisions are recognized when the Group has present legal or constructive obligations as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligations, and reliable estimates of the amounts can be made.

Provision for future decommissioning and restoration is recognized in full on the installation of oil and gas properties. The amount recognized is the present value of the estimated future expenditure determined in accordance with local conditions and requirements. A corresponding addition to the related oil and gas properties of an amount equivalent to the provision is also created. This is subsequently depreciated as part of the costs of the oil and gas properties. Any change in the present value of the estimated expenditure other than due to passage of time which is regarded as interest expense, is reflected as an adjustment to the provision and oil and gas properties.

Provision for onerous contracts is measured at the present value of the lower of the expected cost of terminating the contract and the expected net cost of continuing with the contract. Before a provision is established, the Group recognizes any impairment loss on the assets associated with that contract.

(x) Research and development

Research expenditure incurred is recognized as an expense. Costs incurred on development projects are recognized as intangible assets to the extent that such expenditure is expected to generate future economic benefits.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(y) Retirement benefit plans

The Group contributes to various employee retirement benefit plans organised by PRC municipal and provincial governments under which it is required to make monthly contributions to these plans at prescribed rates for its employees in China. The relevant PRC municipal and provincial governments undertake to assume the retirement benefit obligations of existing and future retired employees of the Group in China. The Group has similar retirement benefit plans for its employees in its overseas operations. Contributions to these PRC and overseas plans (“defined contribution plan”) are charged to expense as incurred. In addition, the Group joined the corporate annuity plan approved by relevant PRC authorities. Contribution to the annuity plan is charged to expense as incurred. The Group currently has no additional material obligations outstanding for the payment of retirement and other post-retirement benefits of employees in the PRC or overseas other than what described above.

(z) Related parties

(a) A person, or a close member of that person’s family, is related to the Group if that person:

 

  (i)

has control or joint control over the Group;

 

  (ii)

has significant influence over the Group; or

 

  (iii)

is a member of the key management personnel of the Group or the Group’s parent.

(b) An entity is related to the Group if any of the following conditions applies:

 

  (i)

The entity and the Group are members of the same group (which means that each parent, subsidiary and fellow subsidiary is related to the others).

 

  (ii)

One entity is an associate or joint venture of the other entity (or an associate or joint venture of a member of a group of which the other entity is a member).

 

  (iii)

Both entities are joint ventures of the same third party.

 

  (iv)

One entity is a joint venture of a third entity and the other entity is an associate of the third entity.

 

  (v)

The entity is a post-employment benefit plan for the benefit of employees of either the Group or an entity related to the Group.

 

  (vi)

The entity is controlled or jointly controlled by a person identified in (a).

 

  (vii)

A person identified in (a) (i) has significant influence over the entity or is a member of the key management personnel of the entity (or of a parent of the entity).

 

  (viii)

The entity, or any member of a group of which it is a part, provides key management personnel services to the Group or to the Group’s parent.

Close members of the family of a person are those family members who may be expected to influence, or be influenced by, that person in their dealings with the entity.

(aa) Changes in significant accounting policies

(i) New and amended standards adopted by the Group in 2019

The Group initially applied IFRS 16 from January 1, 2019. A number of other new standards are also effective from January 1, 2019 but they do not have a material effect on the Group’s financial statements.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

The Group applied IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective approach, under which the cumulative effect of initial application is recognized in retained earnings at January 1, 2019. Accordingly, the comparative information presented for 2018 is not restated. The details of the changes in accounting policies are disclosed below. Additionally, the disclosure requirements in IFRS 16 have not generally been applied to comparative information.

(a) Definition of a lease

Previously, the Group determined at contract inception whether an arrangement was or contained a lease under IFRIC 4. The Group now assesses whether a contract is or contains a lease based on the definition of a lease, as explained in Note 3(k).

On transition to IFRS 16, the Group elected to apply the practical expedient to grandfather the assessment of which transactions are leases. The Group applied IFRS 16 only to contracts that were previously identified as leases. Contracts that were not identified as leases under IAS 17 and IFRIC 4 were not reassessed for whether there is a lease under IFRS 16. Therefore, the definition of a lease under IFRS 16 was applied only to contracts entered into or changed on or after January 1, 2019.

(b) As a lessee

As a lessee, the Group leases many assets including land, building and equipment. The Group previously classified leases as operating or finance leases based on its assessment of whether the lease transferred significantly all of the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset to the Group. Under IFRS 16, the Group recognizes right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for most of these leases.

At commencement or on modification of a contract that contains a lease component, the Group allocates the consideration in the contract to each lease component on the basis of its relative stand-alone price.

Previously, the Group classified property leases as operating leases under IAS 17. On transition, for these leases, lease liabilities were measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted at the Group’s incremental borrowing rate as at January 1, 2019. Right-of-use assets are measured at an amount equal to the lease liability, adjusted by the amount of any prepaid or accrued lease payments: the Group applied this approach to all other leases.

The Group used a number of practical expedients when applying IFRS 16 to leases previously classified as operating leases under IAS 17. In particular, the Group:

 

   

did not recognize right-of-use assets and liabilities for leases for which the lease term ends within 12 months of the date of initial application;

 

   

applied a single discount rate to leases with similar characteristics when measuring lease liabilities;

 

   

excluded initial direct costs from the measurement of the right-of-use asset at the date of initial application;

 

   

used hindsight when determining the lease term;

 

   

relied on the previous assessment for onerous contract provisions as at December 31, 2018 as an alternative to performing an impairment review; and

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

   

no retrospective adjustment shall be made to the lease changes generated before the beginning of the year when the IFRS 16 is initially applied, and accounting treatment shall be carried out based on the IFRS 16 according to the final arrangement of the lease changes.

(c) Impact on transition

When measuring lease liabilities, the Group discounted lease payments using its incremental borrowing rate at January 1, 2019. The weighted-average rate applied by the Group is 4.275%.

 

     The Group  

The total future minimum lease payments of significant operating leases disclosed in the consolidated financial statements as at December 31, 2018

     227,935  

Present value discounted using the Group’s incremental borrowing rate at January 1, 2019

     166,955  

Lease liabilities under new leases standard at January 1, 2019

     163,196  
  

 

 

 

Difference between the present value and lease liabilities aboveNote

     3,759  
  

 

 

 

 

Note:

The difference principally represents the lease payments that will be matured within 12 months after January 1, 2019 or low-value.

The impact of adoption new leases standard on the consolidated statement of financial position are summarized as follows:

 

     The Group  
   Before
adjustmentNote
     Amount of
adjustment
    Adjusted
amount
 

Property, plant and equipment

     1,709,388        (527     1,708,861  

Right-of-use assets

     —          240,642       240,642  

Advance operating lease payments

     78,240        (76,374     1,866  

Prepayments and other current assets

     89,345        (903     88,442  
     

 

 

   

Total assets

        162,838    
     

 

 

   

Lease liabilities (include liabilities due within one year)

     —          163,196       163,196  

Other long-term obligations

     16,339        (358     15,981  
     

 

 

   

Total liabilities

        162,838    
     

 

 

   

 

Note:

The Acquisition of Dalian West Pacific Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (“Dalian West Pacific”) was completed in May 2019, and the Company has adjusted the consolidated financial statements as combination of entities under common control (Note 40).

(ii) New and amended standards adopted by the Group in 2018

The Group has initially adopted IFRS 15 and IFRS 9 from January 1, 2018. A number of other new standards are effective from January 1, 2018 but they do not have a material effect on the Group’s financial statements.

Due to the transition methods chosen by the Group in applying these standards, comparative information throughout these financial statements has not been restated to reflect the requirements of the new standards.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(a) IFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers”

IFRS 15 establishes a comprehensive framework for determining whether, how much and when revenue is recognized. It replaced IAS 18 “Revenue” (“IAS 18”), IAS 11 “Construction Contracts” (“IAS 11”) and related interpretations. Under IFRS 15, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of the goods or services. Determing the timing of the transfer of contract – at point time or over time – requires judgment.

The Group has adopted IFRS 15 using the cumulative effect method (without practical expedients), with the effect of initially applying this standard recognized at the date of initial application (i.e. January 1, 2018). Accordingly, the information presented for 2017 has not been restated – i.e. it is presented, as previously reported, under IAS 18, IAS 11 and related interpretations.

The impacts of adopting IFRS 15 on the Group’s statement of financial position as at December 31, 2018 was that the advances from customers for transfer of goods (or rendering of services) is transferred out from “Advances from customers” as previously included in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” to “Contract liabilities”. There was no material impact on the Group’s statement of comprehensive income and statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2018.

(b) IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments”

IFRS 9 sets out requirements for recognizing and measuring financial assets, financial liabilities and some contracts to buy or sell non-financial items. This standard replaces IAS 39 “Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement” (“IAS 39”).

Impacts of the new requirements on the Group’s financial statements are as follow:

Classification and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities

The classification of financial assets under IFRS 9 is generally based on the business model in which a financial asset is managed and its contractual cash flow characteristics. IFRS 9 eliminates the previous IAS 39 categories of held to maturity, loans and receivables and available for sale. IFRS 9 largely retains the existing requirements in IAS 39 for the classification and measurement of financial liabilities.

As for the classification and measurement of financial instruments, financial assets used to be carried at amortized costs and those at FVTPL shall continue to maintain their existing classification and measurement methods after adopting IFRS 9. As for the non-trading equity instrument investments used to be classified as “Available-for-sale financial assets”, the Group chooses to irrevocably designate them as carried at FVOCI (not to be carried forward into current profit or loss in the future).

Impairment of financial assets

IFRS 9 replaces the ‘incurred loss’ model in IAS 39 with an ‘expected credit loss’ model. The new impairment model applies to financial assets measured at amortized cost, debt investments at FVOCI and contract assets.

Subject to the new standards on financial instruments, the Group has made an assessment on the gap between the original carrying amount and the carrying amount at the date of adoption of the new standards. The adoption of the new standard exerts no material impact on the retained earnings and other comprehensive income as at January 1, 2018.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Transition

Changes in accounting policies resulting from the adoption of IFRS 9 have been applied retrospectively, except the Group has used an exemption not to restate comparative information for prior periods with respect to classification and measurement (including impairment) requirements. There is no differences in the carrying amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities resulting from the adoption of IFRS 9 are recognized in retained earnings and reserves as at January 1, 2018.

 

4

FINANCIAL RISK AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

4.1 Financial risk factors

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks, including market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk.

(a) Market risk

Market risk is the possibility that changes in foreign exchange rates, interest rates and the prices of oil and gas products will adversely affect the value of assets, liabilities and expected future cash flows.

(i) Foreign exchange risk

The Group conducts its domestic business primarily in RMB, but maintains a portion of its assets in other currencies to pay for imported crude oil, imported equipment and other materials and to meet foreign currency financial liabilities. The Group is exposed to currency risks arising from fluctuations in various foreign currency exchange rates against the RMB. The RMB is not a freely convertible currency and is regulated by the PRC government. Limitations on foreign exchange transactions imposed by the PRC government could cause future exchange rates to vary significantly from current or historical exchange rates.

Additionally, the Group operates internationally and foreign exchange risk arises from future acquisitions and commercial transactions, recognized assets and liabilities and net investments in foreign operations. Certain entities in the Group might use currency derivatives to manage such foreign exchange risk.

(ii) Interest rate risk

The Group has no significant interest rate risk on interest-bearing assets. The Group’s exposure to interest rate risk arises from its borrowings. The Group’s borrowings at floating rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk and its borrowings at fixed rates expose the Group to fair value interest rate risk. However, the exposure to interest rate risk is not material to the Group. A detailed analysis of the Group’s borrowings, together with their respective interest rates and maturity dates, is included in Note 28.

(iii) Price risk

The Group is engaged in a wide range of oil and gas products-related activities. Prices of oil and gas products are affected by a wide range of global and domestic factors which are beyond the control of the Group. The fluctuations in such prices may have favorable or unfavorable impacts on the Group.

The Group uses derivative financial instruments, including commodity futures, commodity swaps and commodity options, to hedge some price risks efficiently.

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(b) Credit risk

Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents, time deposits with banks and credit exposure to customers with outstanding receivable balances.

A substantial portion of the Group’s cash at bank and time deposits are placed with the major state-owned banks and financial institutions in China and management believes that the credit risk is low.

The Group performs ongoing assessment of the credit quality of its customers and sets appropriate credit limits taking into account the financial position and past history of defaults of customers. The aging analysis of accounts receivable (net of impairment of accounts receivable) is presented in Note 22. The Group measures loss allowance for accounts receivable at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs. The ECLs were calculated based on historical actual credit loss experience. The rates were considered the differences between economic conditions during the period over which the historical data has been collected, current conditions and the Group’s view of economic conditions over the expected lives of the receivables. The Group performed the calculation of ECL rates by the operating segment and geography.

The following table provides information about the exposure to credit risk and ECLs for accounts receivable as at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

 

     Gross
carrying
amount
     Impairment
provision on
individual
basis
     Impairment provision on
provision matrix basis
     Loss
allowance
 
     Weighted-
average

loss rate
    Impairment
provision
 

December 31, 2019

   RMB      RMB      %     RMB      RMB  

Current (not past due)

     58,382        3        0.1     30        33  

Within 1 year past due

     5,534        11        0.4     24        35  

1 to 2 years past due

     127        24        10.7     11        35  

2 to 3 years past due

     411        48        45.5     165        213  

Over 3 years past due

     2,161        1,719        89.6     396        2,115  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     66,615        1,805          626        2,431  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Gross
carrying
amount
     Impairment
provision on
individual
basis
     Impairment provision on
provision matrix basis
     Loss
allowance
 
     Weighted-
average

loss rate
    Impairment
provision
 

December 31, 2018

   RMB      RMB      %     RMB      RMB  

Current (not past due)

     55,957        50        0.1     80        130  

Within 1 year past due

     3,082        80        0.3     9        89  

1 to 2 years past due

     496        52        7.4     33        85  

2 to 3 years past due

     723        547        35.2     62        609  

Over 3 years past due

     3,317        2,830        63.7     310        3,140  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     63,575        3,559          494        4,053  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, time deposits placed with banks, accounts receivable, other receivables and notes receivable included in the consolidated statement of financial position represent the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk. No other financial assets carry a significant exposure to credit risk.

The Group has no significant concentration of credit risk.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(c) Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities.

In managing its liquidity risk, the Group has access to funding at market rates through equity and debt markets, including using undrawn committed borrowing facilities to meet foreseeable borrowing requirements.

Given the low level of gearing and continued access to funding, the Group believes that its liquidity risk is not material.

Analysis of the Group’s borrowings and lease liabilities based on the remaining period at the date of the statement of financial position to the contractual maturity dates is presented in Note 28 and Note 41.

4.2 Capital management

The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern, optimize returns for owners and to minimize its cost of capital. In meeting its objectives of managing capital, the Group may issue new shares, adjust its debt levels or the mix between short-term and long-term borrowings.

The Group monitors capital on the basis of the gearing ratio which is calculated as interest-bearing borrowings / (interest-bearing borrowings + total equity), interest-bearing borrowings include short-term and long-term borrowings. The gearing ratio at December 31, 2019 is 24.4% (December 31, 2018: 22.7%).

4.3 Fair value estimation

The methods and assumptions applied in determining the fair value of each class of financial assets and financial liabilities of the Group at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are disclosed in the respective accounting policies.

The carrying amounts of the following financial assets and financial liabilities approximate their fair value as all of them are short-term in nature: cash and cash equivalents, time deposits with maturities over three months but within one year, accounts receivable, other receivables, trade payables, other payables and short-term borrowings. The fair values of fixed rate long-term borrowings are likely to be different from their respective carrying amounts. Analysis of the fair values and carrying amounts of long-term borrowings is presented in Note 28.

The equity investments that are not held for trading and notes receivable are measured at fair value at the end of the reporting period. The fair value of such equity investments are mainly categorized into level 1 of the fair value hierarchy which are based on the unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as inputs used in the valuation techniques. Notes receivable are short-term bills of acceptance issued by banks, their fair values approximate the face values of the bills.

 

5

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGMENTS

Estimates and judgments are regularly evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

The matters described below are considered to be the most critical in understanding the estimates and judgments that are involved in preparing the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

(a) Estimation of oil and gas reserves

Estimates of oil and natural gas reserves are key elements in the Group’s investment decision-making process. They are also an important element in testing for impairment. Changes in proved oil and gas reserves, particularly proved developed reserves, will affect unit-of-production depreciation, depletion and amortization recorded in the Group’s consolidated financial statements for property, plant and equipment related to oil and gas production activities. A reduction in proved developed reserves will increase depreciation, depletion and amortization charges. Proved oil and gas reserves estimates are subject to revision, either upward or downward, based on new information, such as from development drilling and production activities or from changes in economic factors, including product prices, contract terms, evolution of technology or development plans, etc.

(b) Estimation of impairment of property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment, including oil and gas properties, are reviewed for possible impairments when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Determination as to whether and how much an asset is impaired involves management estimates and judgments such as the future price of crude oil, natural gas, refined and chemical products, the operation costs, the product mix, production volumes, production profile and the oil and gas reserves. The impairment reviews and calculations are based on assumptions that are consistent with the Group’s business plans taking into account current economic conditions. Favorable changes to some assumptions, may allow the Group to avoid the need to impair any assets or make it necessary to reverse an impairment loss recognized in prior periods, whereas unfavorable changes may cause the assets to become impaired. For example, when the assumed future selling price, production cost and production profile of crude oil and natural gas used for the expected future cash flows are different from the actual selling price, production cost and production profile of crude oil and natural gas respectively experienced in future, the Group may either over or under recognize the impairment losses for certain assets.

(c) Estimation of impairment of goodwill

The recoverable amount cash-generating unit containing goodwill is the greater of its value in use and the fair value less costs to sell. It is difficult to precisely estimate selling price of the Group’s long-lived assets because quoted market prices for such assets may not be readily available. In determining the value in use, expected future cash flows generated by the assets are discounted to their present value, which requires significant judgment relating to forecast sales volume, selling price and operating costs, and discount rate. Management uses all readily available information in determining an amount that is a reasonable approximation of recoverable amount, including estimates based on reasonable and supportable assumptions. Changes to key assumptions can significantly affect the result of the impairment assessment of goodwill.

(d) Estimation of asset retirement obligations

Provision is recognized for the future decommissioning and restoration of oil and gas properties. The amount of the provision recognized is the present values of the estimated future expenditures. The estimation of the future expenditures is based on current local conditions and requirements, including legal requirements, technology, price levels, etc. In addition to these factors, the present values of these estimated future expenditures are also impacted by the estimation of the economic lives of oil and gas properties and estimates of discount rates. Changes in any of these estimates will impact the operating results and the financial position of the Group over the remaining economic lives of the oil and gas properties.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(e) Deferred tax assets

According to the requirements of the competent tax authority, the Company paid income taxes of its branches in the Eastern and Western China Regions in aggregate. The tax losses recorded by the branches in the Eastern China Region has given rise to deferred tax assets, which are expected to be recoverable from future taxable profits generated by the branches in the Eastern China Region. Any policy adjustments may increase or decrease the amount of income tax expenses of the Company.

 

6

REVENUE

Revenue represents revenues from the sale of crude oil, natural gas, refined products and chemical products and from the transmission of crude oil, refined products and natural gas. The revenue information for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

 

2019

Type of contract

   Exploration
and

Production
    Refining
and
Chemicals
    Marketing     Natural Gas
and Pipeline
    Head
Office and
Other
    Total  

Type of goods and services

            

Crude oil

     476,974       —         605,541       —         —         1,082,515  

Natural gas

     110,837       —         238,999       291,641       —         641,477  

Refined products

     —         738,116       1,268,889       —         —         2,007,005  

Chemical products

     —         157,044       28,348       —         —         185,392  

Pipeline transportation business

     —         —         —         70,568       —         70,568  

Non-oil sales in gas stations

     —         —         21,146       —         —         21,146  

Others

     88,284       7,312       2,239       28,341       3,684       129,860  

Intersegment elimination

     (552,672     (712,178     (315,157     (40,652     (1,644     (1,622,303
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue from contracts with customers

     123,423       190,294       1,850,005       349,898       2,040       2,515,660  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other revenue

               1,150  
            

 

 

 

Total

               2,516,810  
            

 

 

 

Geographical Region

            

Mainland China

     41,596       190,294       891,731       349,898       2,040       1,475,559  

Others

     81,827       —         958,274       —         —         1,040,101  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue from contracts with customers

     123,423       190,294       1,850,005       349,898       2,040       2,515,660  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other revenue

               1,150  
            

 

 

 

Total

               2,516,810  
            

 

 

 

 

F-33


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

 

2018

Type of contract

   Exploration
and

Production
    Refining
and
Chemicals
    Marketing     Natural Gas
and Pipeline
    Head
Office and
Other
    Total  

Type of goods and services

            

Crude oil

     477,512       —         440,560       —         —         918,072  

Natural gas

     104,927       —         222,387       256,810       —         584,124  

Refined products

     —         739,532       1,285,065       —         —         2,024,597  

Chemical products

     —         164,229       30,894       —         —         195,123  

Pipeline transportation business

     —         —         —         70,068       —         70,068  

Non-oil sales in gas stations

     —         —         22,274       —         —         22,274  

Others

     76,044       7,292       1,722       35,545       2,372       122,975  

Intersegment elimination

     (539,295     (706,559     (280,750     (35,899     (606     (1,563,109
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue from contracts with customers

     119,188       204,494       1,722,152       326,524       1,766       2,374,124  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other revenue

               810  
            

 

 

 

Total

               2,374,934  
            

 

 

 

Geographical Region

            

Mainland China

     41,791       204,494       962,950       326,524       1,766       1,537,525  

Others

     77,397       —         759,202       —         —         836,599  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue from contracts with customers

     119,188       204,494       1,722,152       326,524       1,766       2,374,124  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other revenue

               810  
            

 

 

 

Total

               2,374,934  
            

 

 

 

 

F-34


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

7

PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 

     2019      2018      2017  
     RMB      RMB      RMB  

Items credited and charged in arriving at the profit before income tax expense include:

        

Credited

        

Dividend income from equity investments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income

     22        52        —    

Dividend income from available-for-sale financial assets

     —          —          42  

Reversal of provision for impairment of receivables

     1,630        1,370        37  

Reversal of write down in inventories

     201        77        49  

Government grants(i)

     12,281        11,775        9,106  

Gain on disposal of investment in subsidiaries

     49        45        613  

Charged

        

Amortization of intangible and other assets

     4,992        4,897        4,495  

Depreciation and impairment losses:

        

Owned property, plant and equipment

     205,297        222,195        228,227  

Right-of-use assets(ii)

     14,973        —          —    

Auditors’ remuneration(iii)

     53        53        53  

Cost of inventories recognized as expense

     1,981,628        1,820,838        1,569,916  

Provision for impairment of receivables

     263        1,385        3,291  

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

     9,809        16,761        4,963  

Total minimum lease payments for leases previously classified as operating lease under IAS 17(ii)

     —          20,196        20,089  

Variable lease payments, low-value and short-term lease payment not included in the measurement of lease liabilities

     3,514        —          —    

Research and development expenses

     15,666        14,093        12,323  

Write down in inventories

     1,461        4,307        1,118  

 

(i)

Comprises proportionate refund of import value-added tax relating to the import of natural gas (including liquefied natural gas) provided by the PRC government and value-added tax refund upon levy for pipeline transportation service over which portion of value-added tax actual tax burden exceeds 3%. This value-added tax refund is applicable from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2020 and available when the import prices of the natural gas and liquefied natural gas imported under any State-sanctioned pipelines are higher than their prescribed selling prices.

(ii)

The Group has initially applied IFRS 16 under the modified retrospective approach and adjusted the opening balances at January 1, 2019 to recognize right-of-use assets relating to leases which were previously classified as operating leases under IAS 17. The depreciated carrying amount of the finance lease assets which were previously included in property, plant and equipment is also identified as a right-of-use asset. After initial recognition of right-of-use assets at January 1, 2019, the Group as a lessee is required to recognize the depreciation of right-of-use assets, instead of recognizing rental expenses incurred under operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term according to the previous policy. Under this approach, the comparative information is not restated.

(iii)

The auditors’ remuneration above represents the annual audit fees paid by the Company. This remuneration does not include fees of RMB 60 (2018: RMB 52, 2017: RMB 52) paid by subsidiaries to the Company’s current auditor and its network firms which primarily relates to audit, tax compliance and other advisory services.

 

F-35


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

8

EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION COSTS

 

     2019      2018      2017  
     RMB      RMB      RMB  

Wages, salaries and allowances

     101,815        95,761        82,835  

Social security costs

     52,503        48,630        42,868  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     154,318        144,391        125,703  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Social security costs mainly represent contributions to plans for staff welfare organized by the PRC municipal and provincial governments and others including contributions to the retirement benefit plans (Note 33).

 

9

TAXES OTHER THAN INCOME TAXES

 

     2019      2018      2017  
     RMB      RMB      RMB  

Consumption tax

     164,973        152,494        144,973  

Resource tax

     24,388        24,339        18,000  

Crude oil special gain levy

     771        4,750        —    

Other

     38,304        39,094        37,731  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     228,436        220,677        200,704  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

10

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

     2019     2018     2017  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Interest on:

      

Bank loans

     3,094       2,134       1,684  

Other loans

     15,476       16,313       17,712  

Lease liabilities

     7,476       —         —    

Accretion expense (Note 32)

     5,525       5,678       5,453  

Less: Amounts capitalized

     (1,162     (1,407     (2,008
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     30,409       22,718       22,841  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amounts capitalized are borrowing costs that are attributable to the construction of a qualifying asset. The average interest rate used to capitalize such general borrowing cost was 4.28% per annum for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: 4.28% per annum, 2017: 4.28% per annum).

 

F-36


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

11

EMOLUMENTS OF DIRECTORS AND SUPERVISORS

Details of the emoluments of directors and supervisors for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

 

     2019      2018      2017  

Name

   Fee for
directors
and
supervisors
     Salaries,
allowances
and other
benefits
     Contribution
to retirement
benefit
scheme
     Total      Total      Total  
     RMB’000      RMB’000      RMB’000      RMB’000      RMB’000      RMB’000  

Chairmen:

                 

Mr. Dai Houliang(i)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Wang Yilin(i)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Vice chairmen:

                 

Mr. Zhang Wei(ii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Zhang Jianhua(iii)

     —          —          —          —          633        —    

Mr. Wang Dongjin(iv)

     —          —          —          —          409        823  

Executive directors:

                 

Mr. Zhao Zhengzhang(v)

     —          —          —          —          —          159  

Mr. Hou Qijun(vi)

     —          829        154        983        888        648  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     —          829        154        983        1,930        1,630  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-executive directors:

                 

Mr. Yu Baocai(vii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Shen Diancheng(viii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Liu Yuezhen

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Liu Hongbin(ix)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Jiao Fangzheng(x)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Duan Liangwei(viii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Qin Weizhong(xi)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Chen Zhiwu(xii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Richard H. Matzke(xii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Lin Boqiang

     386        —          —          386        365        250  

Mr. Zhang Biyi

     386        —          —          386        399        250  

Ms. Elsie Leung Oi-sie(xii)

     319        —          —          319        334        220  

Mr. Tokuchi Tatsuhito(xii)

     351        —          —          351        334        226  

Mr. Simon Henry(xii)

     340        —          —          340        340        213  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,782        —          —          1,782        1,772        1,159  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Supervisors:

                 

Mr. Xu Wenrong(xiii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Guo Jinping(xiii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Zhang Fengshan

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Li Qingyi(xiii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Jia Yimin(xiii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Jiang Lifu

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Lu Yaozhong(xiii)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

 

F-37


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

     2019      2018      2017  

Name

   Fee for
directors
and
supervisors
     Salaries,
allowances
and other
benefits
     Contribution
to retirement
benefit
scheme
     Total      Total      Total  
     RMB’000      RMB’000      RMB’000      RMB’000      RMB’000      RMB’000  

Mr. Wang Liang(xiv)

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Yao Wei

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Liu Hehe

     —          —          —          —          —          —    

Mr. Yang Hua(xiii)

     —          —          —          —          —          250  

Mr. Fu Suotang(xiii)

     —          1,070        85        1,155        967        571  

Mr. Li Jiamin

     —          906        72        978        850        810  

Mr. Liu Xianhua

     —          774        71        845        743        733  

Mr. Li Wendong

     —          937        130        1,067        960        884  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     —          3,687        358        4,045        3,520        3,248  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,782        4,516        512        6,810        7,222        6,037  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(i)

Mr. Dai Houliang was elected as the chairman from March 25, 2020. Mr. Wang Yilin ceased being the chairman from January 19, 2020.

(ii)

Mr. Zhang Wei was elected as the non-executive director and vice chairman from June 13, 2019 and ceased being the non-executive director and vice chairman from December 9, 2019.

(iii)

Mr. Zhang Jianhua was appointed as executive director and president from June 5, 2018 and ceased being the executive director and president from November 14, 2018.

(iv)

Mr. Wang Dongjin ceased being the executive director and president from April 2, 2018.

(v)

Mr. Zhao Zhengzhang ceased being the executive director from June 8, 2017.

(vi)

Mr. Hou Qijun was elected as the executive director from June 8, 2017, elected as the president from March 21, 2019 and ceased being the executive director and president from December 9, 2019.

(vii)

Mr. Yu Baocai ceased being the non-executive director from June 7, 2018.

(viii)

Mr. Shen Diancheng ceased being the non-executive director from June 8, 2017. Mr. Duan Liangwei was elected as the non-executive directors from June 8, 2017.

(ix)

Mr. Liu Hongbin ceased being the non-executive director from December 3, 2019.

(x)

Mr. Jiao Fangzheng was elected as the non-executive director from June 13, 2019.

(xi)

Mr. Qin Weizhong was elected as the non-executive directors from June 8, 2017 and ceased being the non-executive director from April 15, 2019.

(xii)

Mr. Chen Zhiwu and Mr. Richard H. Matzke ceased being the independent non-executive directors from June 8, 2017. Ms. Elsie Leung Oi-sie, Mr. Tokuchi Tatsuhito and Mr. Simon Henry were elected as the independent non-executive directors from June 8, 2017.

(xiii)

Mr. Xu Wenrong ceased being the non-executive director from June 8, 2017. Mr.Xu Wenrong was elected as the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee and Mr. Lu Yaozhong was elected as the supervisor from June 8, 2017. Mr. Guo Jinping, Mr. Li Qingyi and Mr. Jia Yimin ceased being the supervisors from June 8, 2017. Mr. Yang Hua ceased being the staff supervisor from June 8, 2017. Mr. Fu Suotang was elected as the staff supervisor from June 8, 2017.

(xiv)

Mr. Wang Liang was elected as the supervisor from October 26, 2017.

(xv)

The emoluments above are all pre-tax amounts.

(xvi)

The deferred performance emoluments of RMB 0.33 which the Company paid to the directors attribuatble to the year of 2016 to 2018 in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Chinese Government are not reflected in the 2019 annual remuneration shown above. (2018: RMB 0.17, 2017: RMB nil)

 

F-38


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

None of the directors and supervisors has waived their remuneration during the year ended December 31, 2019. (2018: None of the directors and supervisors has waived their remuneration. 2017: None of the directors and supervisors has waived their remuneration)

The five highest paid individuals in the Company for the year ended December 31, 2019 include three supervisors and one director whose emoluments are reflected in the analysis shown above and the note; and one senior management whose allowances and other benefits was RMB 0.940, and whose contribution to retirement benefit scheme was RMB 0.161.

The five highest paid individuals in the Company for the year ended December 31, 2018 include one supervisor whose emoluments are reflected in the analysis shown above and the note; and four senior managements whose allowances and other benefits were RMB 0.912, RMB 0.899, RMB 0.866 and RMB 0.847, respectively, and whose contribution to retirement benefit scheme were RMB 0.148, RMB 0.148, RMB 0.148 and RMB 0.148, respectively.

The five highest paid individuals in the Company for the year ended December 31, 2017 include two supervisors whose emoluments are reflected in the analysis shown above and the note; and three senior managements whose allowances and other benefits were RMB 0.823, RMB 0.823 and RMB 0.732, respectively, and whose contribution to retirement benefit scheme were RMB 0.127, RMB 0.127 and RMB 0.127, respectively.

During 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not incur any severance payment to any director for loss of office or any payment as inducement to any director to join the Company.

 

12

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 

     2019      2018      2017  
     RMB      RMB      RMB  

Current taxes

     32,714        34,983        23,835  

Deferred taxes (Note 31)

     3,485        7,807        (7,539
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     36,199        42,790        16,296  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In accordance with the relevant PRC income tax rules and regulations, the PRC corporate income tax rate applicable to the Group is principally 25%. In accordance with the Circular jointly issued by the MOF, the General Administration of Customs of the PRC and the SAT on Issues Concerning Tax Policies for In-depth Implementation of Western Development Strategy (Cai Shui [2011] No.58), the corporate income tax for the enterprises engaging in the encouraged industries in the Western China Region is charged at a preferential corporate income tax rate of 15% from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2020. Certain branches and subsidiaries of the Company in the Western China Region obtained the approval for the use of the preferential corporate income tax rate of 15%.

 

F-39


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

The tax on the Group’s profit before taxation differs from the theoretical amount that would arise using the corporate income tax rate in the PRC applicable to the Group as follows:

 

     2019     2018     2017  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Profit before income tax expense

     103,214       116,770       55,691  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Tax calculated at a tax rate of 25%

     25,804       29,193       13,923  

Tax return true-up

     691       554       1,275  

Effect of income taxes from international operations different from taxes at the PRC statutory tax rate

     6,112       4,414       693  

Effect of preferential tax rate

     (5,529     (3,855     (5,058

Tax effect of income not subject to tax

     (3,767     (3,278     (3,401

Tax effect of expenses not deductible for tax purposes

     4,479       8,278       5,018  

Tax effect of temporary differences and losses unrecognized as deferred tax assets

     8,409       7,484       3,846  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income tax expense

     36,199       42,790       16,296  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

13

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 have been computed by dividing profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company by 183,021 million shares issued and outstanding for the year.

There are no potentially dilutive ordinary shares.

 

14

DIVIDENDS

 

     2019      2018      2017  
     RMB      RMB      RMB  

Interim dividends attributable to owners of the Company for 2019(a)

     14,212        —          —    

Proposed final dividends attributable to owners of the Company for 2019(b)

     12,081        —          —    

Interim dividends attributable to owners of the Company for 2018(c)

     —          16,252        —    

Final dividends attributable to owners of the Company for 2018(d)

     —          16,472        —    

Interim dividends attributable to owners of the Company for 2017(e)

     —          —          12,676  

Final dividends attributable to owners of the Company for 2017(f)

     —          —          11,117  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     26,293        32,724        23,793  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Interim dividends attributable to owners of the Company in respect of 2019 of RMB 0.07765 yuan per share amounting to a total of RMB 14,212. The dividends were paid on September 24, 2019 (A shares) and November 1, 2019 (H shares).

(b)

At the 3rd meeting of the Board in 2020, the Board of Directors proposed final dividends attributable to owners of the Company in respect of 2019 of RMB 0.06601 yuan per share amounting to a total of RMB 12,081. These consolidated financial statements do not reflect this dividend payable as the final dividends were proposed after the reporting period and will be accounted for in equity as an appropriation of retained earnings for the year ended December 31, 2019 when approved at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(c)

Interim dividends attributable to owners of the Company in respect of 2018 of RMB 0.08880 yuan per share amounting to a total of RMB 16,252. The dividends were paid on September 21, 2018 (A shares) and November 1, 2018 (H shares).

(d)

Final dividends attributable to owners of the Company in respect of 2018 of RMB 0.09 yuan per share amounting to a total of RMB 16,472 and were paid on June 28, 2019 (A shares) and August 2, 2019 (H shares).

(e)

Interim dividends attributable to owners of the Company in respect of 2017 of RMB 0.06926 yuan per share amounting to a total of RMB 12,676. The dividends were paid on September 15, 2017 (A shares) and October 27, 2017 (H shares).

(f)

Final dividends attributable to owners of the Company in respect of 2017 of RMB 0.06074 yuan per share amounting to a total of RMB 11,117 and were paid on June 21, 2018 (A shares) and July 26, 2018 (H shares).

 

15

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

Year Ended

December 31, 2019

   Buildings     Oil
and Gas
Properties
    Equipment
and
Machinery
    Motor
Vehicles
    Other     Construction
in Progress
    Total  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Cost

              

At beginning of the year

     237,038       2,113,366       1,102,423       27,911       34,080       226,623       3,741,441  

Additions

     1,330       5,990       6,111       1,325       752       283,170       298,678  

Transfers

     21,265       174,749       52,449       —         1,234       (249,697     —    

Disposals or write offs

     (7,605     (40,253     (7,528     (2,096     (549     (8,900     (66,931

Currency translation differences

     146       7,351       161       8       638       4,106       12,410  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At end of the year

     252,174       2,261,203       1,153,616       27,148       36,155       255,302       3,985,598  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

              

At beginning of the year

     (100,767     (1,312,907     (570,120     (20,276     (21,714     (6,269     (2,032,053

Charge for the year and others

     (11,402     (128,859     (50,360     (1,386     (1,365     —         (193,372

Impairment charge

     (237     (11,562     (1,159     (4     (38     (419     (13,419

Disposals or write offs or transfers

     4,532       28,241       5,945       1,724       436       491       41,369  

Currency translation differences

     (69     (4,302     (76     (5     (411     (36     (4,899
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At end of the year

     (107,943     (1,429,389     (615,770     (19,947     (23,092     (6,233     (2,202,374
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net book value

              

At end of the year

     144,231       831,814       537,846       7,201       13,063       249,069       1,783,224  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Year Ended

December 31, 2018

   Buildings     Oil
and Gas
Properties
    Equipment
and
Machinery
    Motor
Vehicles
    Other     Construction
in Progress
    Total  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Cost

              

At beginning of the year

     227,008       2,011,329       1,068,598       28,990       32,631       199,873       3,568,429  

Additions

     655       10,217       3,586       1,113       649       238,821       255,041  

Transfers

     15,880       146,012       42,324       —         1,539       (205,755     —    

Disposals or write offs

     (6,415     (57,281     (12,458     (2,184     (506     (8,579     (87,423

Currency translation differences

     (90     3,089       373       (8     (233     2,263       5,394  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At end of the year

     237,038       2,113,366       1,102,423       27,911       34,080       226,623       3,741,441  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

              

At beginning of the year

     (94,160     (1,199,741     (526,441     (20,296     (18,230     (3,007     (1,861,875

Charge for the year and others

     (10,021     (131,023     (49,642     (1,629     (1,875     —         (194,190

Impairment charge

     (759     (19,856     (3,937     (37     (2,066     (3,270     (29,925

Disposals or write offs or transfers

     4,095       42,218       9,952       1,676       358       55       58,354  

Currency translation differences

     78       (4,505     (52     10       99       (47     (4,417
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At end of the year

     (100,767     (1,312,907     (570,120     (20,276     (21,714     (6,269     (2,032,053
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net book value

              

At end of the year

     136,271       800,459       532,303       7,635       12,366       220,354       1,709,388  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Group’s exploration and production segment determines whether there are any indications of impairment for the oil blocks according to the Group’s guidance of identification of impairment indications for oil and gas properties, performs the impairment tests on those oil blocks with indications of impairment, and reports the results to the Group’s internal professional team (including operation and finance team) for further overall assessment and evaluation. The final results of the impairment tests have been submitted to the Group’s management for review and approval. The Group recorded impairment losses amounting to RMB 11,562 related to oil and gas properties under the exploration and production segment for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 19,856 and RMB 2,904 related to oil and gas properties and construction in progress respectively under the exploration and production segment, 2017: RMB 3,961 related to oil and gas properties under the exploration and production segment) due to the decline of oil and gas reserves, the higher production costs and significant drop in the economic benefits of certain oil blocks at the late stage of production. The carrying amount of those impaired oil and gas properties was written down to their respective recoverable amounts, which were determined based on the present values of the expected future cash flows of the assets. The Group referred to the weighted average cost of capital of the oil and gas industry when determining discount rate, and made relevant adjustments according to specific risks in different countries or regions. In 2019, the after-tax discount rates adopted by most oil blocks of the Group ranged 6.4% to 15.4% (2018: 7.3% to 11.5%, 2017: 7.6% to 11.0%).

The Group recorded impairment losses amounting to RMB 1,159 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 3,937, 2017: RMB 10,300) mainly related to assets in refining and chemicals segment and natural gas and pipeline segment. Some of the refinery facilities are out of service due to environmental protection

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

requirements, technical upgrading and other reasons, and some of the LNG assets in natural gas and pipeline segment have high operating costs and poor efficiency, which leads to the provision for impairment. The carrying amount of these assets has been reduced to the recoverable amount.

The following table indicates the changes to the Group’s exploratory well costs, which are included in construction in progress, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

 

     2019     2018     2017  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

At beginning of the year

     26,905       22,843       21,421  

Additions to capitalized exploratory well costs pending the determination of proved reserves

     35,098       28,045       25,165  

Reclassified to wells, facilities, and equipment based on the determination of proved reserves

     (17,002     (15,404     (14,288

Capitalized exploratory well costs charged to expense

     (8,900     (8,579     (9,455
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At end of the year

     36,101       26,905       22,843  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table provides an aging of capitalized exploratory well costs based on the date the drilling was completed.

 

     December 31, 2019      December 31, 2018  
     RMB      RMB  

One year or less

     23,924        17,542  

Over one year

     12,177        9,363  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 31

     36,101        26,905  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capitalized exploratory well costs over one year are principally related to wells that are under further evaluation of drilling results or pending completion of development planning to ascertain economic viability.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

16

INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES AND JOINT VENTURES

The summarized financial information of the Group’s principal associates and joint ventures, including the aggregated amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, profit or loss and the interest held by the Group were as follows:

 

Name

  Country of
Incorporation
    Registered
Capital
    

Principal Activities

  Interest Held  
  Direct %     Indirect %  

PetroIneos Refining Limited

    UK       USD 1,000      Refining     —         49.90  

China Petroleum Finance Co., Ltd.

    PRC       8,331      Deposits, loans, settlement, lending, bills acceptance discounting, guarantee and other banking business     32.00       —    

CNPC Captive Insurance Co., Ltd.

    PRC       5,000      Property loss insurance, liability insurance, credit insurance and deposit insurance; as well as the application of the above insurance reinsurance and insurance capital business     49.00       —    

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co., Ltd.

    PRC       1,000      Oil import and export trade and transportation, sale and storage     —         50.00  

Mangistau Investment B.V.

    Netherlands       EUR 18,000      Engages in investing activities, the principle activities of its main subsidiaries are exploration, exploitation and sale of oil and gas.     —         50.00  

Trans-Asia Gas Pipeline Co., Ltd.

    PRC       5,000      Main contractor, investment holding, investment management, investment consulting, enterprise management advisory, technology development, promotion and technology consulting     —         50.00  

Dividends received or receivable from associates and joint ventures were RMB 4,432 in 2019 (2018: RMB 6,558, 2017: RMB 7,034).

In 2019, investments in associates and joint ventures of RMB 119 (2018: RMB 207, 2017: RMB 96) were disposed of, resulting in a gain of RMB 238 (2018: a gain of RMB 7, 2017: a gain of RMB 6).

In 2019, the share of profit and other comprehensive income in all individually immaterial associates and joint ventures accounted for using equity method in aggregate was profit of RMB 2,207 (2018: profit of RMB 8,996, 2017: profit of RMB 3,235) and RMB 2,098 (2018: profit of RMB 480, 2017: loss of RMB 845), respectively.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Interest in Associates

Summarized financial information in respect of the Group’s principal associates and reconciliation to carrying amount is as follow:

 

     PetroIneos Refining
Limited
     China Petroleum
Finance Co., Ltd.
     CNPC Captive
Insurance Co., Ltd.
 
     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB      RMB      RMB      RMB      RMB  

Percentage ownership interest (%)

     49.90        49.90        32.00        32.00        49.00        49.00  

Current assets

     1,457        1,373        261,520        173,948        10,823        10,493  

Non-current assets

     14,364        14,795        228,933        285,805        2,618        2,928  

Current liabilities

     7,843        7,997        403,052        378,472        6,981        7,184  

Non-current liabilities

     1,457        1,430        17,234        16,317        3        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets

     6,521        6,741        70,167        64,964        6,457        6,237  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Group’s share of net assets

     3,254        3,364        22,453        20,788        3,164        3,056  

Goodwill

     —          —          349        349        —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Carrying amount of interest in associates

     3,254        3,364        22,802        21,137        3,164        3,056  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Summarized statement of comprehensive income and dividends received by the Group are as follow:

 

     PetroIneos Refining
Limited
    China Petroleum
Finance Co., Ltd.
    CNPC Captive
Insurance Co., Ltd.
 
     2019     2018     2017     2019      2018      2017     2019     2018      2017  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB      RMB      RMB     RMB     RMB      RMB  

Revenue

     4,446       4,588       4,472       9,672        8,520        8,520       712       706        654  

(Loss)/profit for the year

     (326     (120     699       7,810        7,554        7,286       349       315        364  

Other comprehensive income

     106       325       (384     1,356        651        (1,395     (1     —          1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

     (220     205       315       9,166        8,205        5,891       348       315        365  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Group’s share of total comprehensive income

     (110     102       157       2,933        2,626        1,885       170       154        179  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends received by the Group

     —         —         —         1,268        983        815       62       63        27  

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Interest in Joint Ventures

Summarized statement of financial position as included in their own financial statements, adjusted for fair value adjustments and differences in accounting policies in respect of the Group’s principal joint ventures and reconciliation to carrying amount is as follows:

 

    China Marine Bunker
(PetroChina) Co., Ltd.
    Mangistau Investment B.V.     Trans-Asia Gas
Pipeline Co., Ltd.
 
    December 31,
2019
    December 31,
2018
    December 31,
2019
    December 31,
2018
    December 31,
2019
    December 31,
2018
 
    RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Percentage ownership interest (%)

    50.00       50.00       50.00       50.00       50.00       50.00  

Non-current assets

    1,750       1,893       11,980       11,642       43,258       34,584  

Current assets

    8,666       7,313       1,211       780       2,680       3,330  

Including: cash and cash equivalents

    1,206       1,368       292       265       73       81  

Non-current liabilities

    152       152       3,062       2,740       2,355       2,100  

Including: Non-current financial liabilities

    5       20       907       892       2,100       2,100  

Current liabilities

    7,349       6,091       567       868       445       267  

Including: Current financial liabilities excluding trade and other payables

    3,599       3,796       —         —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets

    2,915       2,963       9,562       8,814       43,138       35,547  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net assets attributable to owners of the Company

    2,672       2,702       9,562       8,814       43,138       35,547  

Group’s share of net assets

    1,336       1,351       4,781       4,407       21,569       17,774  

Carrying amount of interest in joint ventures

    1,336       1,351       4,781       4,407       21,569       17,774  

Summarized statement of comprehensive income as included in their own financial statements, adjusted for fair value adjustments and differences in accounting policies and dividends received by the Group is as follows:

 

     China Marine Bunker
(PetroChina) Co., Ltd.
    Mangistau Investment B.V.     Trans-Asia Gas
Pipeline Co., Ltd.
 
     2019     2018     2017     2019     2018     2017     2019     2018     2017  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Revenue

     42,116       43,924       31,770       15,104       16,085       13,192       23       14       16  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (81     (90     (93     (883     (807     (808     (37     (4     (3

Interest income

     23       18       12       2       5       3       51       59       65  

Interest expense

     (88     (96     (39     (158     (154     (122     (57     (46     (43

Income tax expense

     (92     (37     (44     (925     (1,077     (27     —         10       —    

Net profit

     142       126       116       2,818       3,324       1,947       4,070       1,931       4,612  

Total comprehensive income

     169       151       87       2,978       3,020       1,852       7,940       2,505       4,502  

Group’s share of total comprehensive income

     85       76       43       1,489       1,510       926       3,970       1,253       2,251  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends received by the Group

     —         8       —         1,115       1,650       2,141       175       —         —    

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

17

EQUITY INVESTMENTS MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

     December 31, 2019      December 31, 2018  
     RMB      RMB  

China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co., Ltd.

     185        139  

Chengdu Huaqi Houpu Holding Co., Ltd.

     191        114  

Other items

     546        485  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     922        738  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The above equity investments are planned to be held for a long term by the Group for strategic purpose, the Group designates them as equity investments at fair value through other comprehensive income.

Dividends amounting to RMB 22 were received on these investments during the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 52).

 

18

SUBSIDIARIES

The principal subsidiaries of the Group are:

 

Company Name

 

Country of

Incorporation

 

Registered

Capital

 

Type of
Legal
Entity

 

Attributable

Equity
Interest %

 

Voting
Rights
%

 

Principal Activities

Daqing Oilfield Company Limited

  PRC   47,500   Limited liability company   100.00   100.00   Exploration, production and sale of crude oil and natural gas

CNPC Exploration and Development Company Limited(i)

  PRC   16,100   Limited liability company   50.00   57.14   Exploration, production and sale of crude oil and natural gas outside the PRC

PetroChina Hong Kong Limited

  Hong Kong  

HKD

7,592 million

  Limited liability company   100.00   100.00   Investment holding. The principal activities of its subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are the exploration, production and sale of crude oil in and outside the PRC as well as natural gas sale and transmission in the PRC

PetroChina International Investment Company Limited

  PRC   31,314   Limited liability company   100.00   100.00   Investment holding. The principal activities of its subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are the exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas, oil sands and coalbed methane outside the PRC

 

F-47


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Company Name

 

Country of

Incorporation

 

Registered

Capital

 

Type of
Legal
Entity

 

Attributable

Equity
Interest %

 

Voting
Rights
%

 

Principal Activities

PetroChina International Company Limited

  PRC   18,096   Limited liability company   100.00   100.00   Marketing of refined products and trading of crude oil and petrochemical products, storage, investment in refining, chemical engineering, storage facilities, service station, and transportation facilities and related business in and outside the PRC

PetroChina Pipelines Co., Ltd.

  PRC   80,000   Limited liability company   72.26   72.26  

Oil and gas pipeline transportation, investment

holding, import and export of goods, agency of import and export, import and export of technology, technology promotion service, professional contractor, main contractor

 

(i)

The Company consolidated the financial statements of the entity because it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.

Summarized financial information in respect of the Group’s principal subsidiaries with significant non-controlling interests is as follows:

 

     CNPC Exploration and
Development Company
Limited
     PetroChina Pipelines
Co., Ltd.
 
     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB      RMB      RMB  

Percentage ownership interest (%)

     50.00        50.00        72.26        72.26  

Current assets

     20,604        21,463        4,306        4,604  

Non-current assets

     186,792        166,155        228,623        224,163  

Current liabilities

     18,911        14,525        7,631        7,531  

Non-current liabilities

     25,326        25,967        9,616        6,095  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets

     163,159        147,126        215,682        215,141  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Summarized statement of comprehensive income is as follows:

 

     CNPC Exploration and Development
Company Limited
    PetroChina Pipelines Co., Ltd.  
     2019      2018      2017     2019      2018      2017  
     RMB      RMB      RMB     RMB      RMB      RMB  

Revenue

     47,096        45,618        37,304       43,463        43,062        43,627  

Profit from continuing operations

     14,126        15,563        3,696       18,911        19,436        17,891  

Total comprehensive income

     17,879        17,577        (1,050     18,911        19,436        17,891  

Profit attributable to non-controlling interests

     8,274        8,844        2,390       5,246        5,392        4,963  

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

     1,923        2,038        1,420       4,852        7,174        3,569  

Summarized statement of cash flows is as follows:

 

    CNPC Exploration and
Development Company
Limited
    PetroChina Pipelines
Co., Ltd.
 
    2019     2018     2017     2019     2018     2017  
    RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Net cash inflow from operating activities

    17,780       22,467       18,545       30,058       29,701       31,160  

Net cash (outflow) / inflow from investing activities

    (17,306     (33,466     (12,304     (10,764     (2,701     2,869  

Net cash (outflow) / inflow from financing activities

    (1,118     7,865       (4,296     (18,910     (25,919     (36,190

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

    220       (1,350     (2,183     —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents

    (424     (4,484     (238     384       1,081       (2,161

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

    13,498       17,982       18,220       1,229       148       2,309  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

    13,074       13,498       17,982       1,613       1,229       148  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

19

ADVANCE OPERATING LEASE PAYMENTS

 

     December 31, 2018  
     RMB  

Land use rights

     58,858  

Advance lease payments

     19,382  
  

 

 

 
     78,240  
  

 

 

 

Advance operating lease payments were amortized over the related lease terms using the straight-line method. “Advance operating lease payments” were reclassified as “Right-of-use assets” upon initial adoption of IFRS 16 at January 1, 2019 (see Note 3 (aa)).

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

20

INTANGIBLE AND OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS

 

     December 31, 2019      December 31, 2018  
     Cost      Accumulated
amortization,
including
impairment
losses
    Net      Cost      Accumulated
amortization,
including
impairment
losses
    Net  
     RMB      RMB     RMB      RMB      RMB     RMB  

Patents and technical know-how

     7,782        (6,370     1,412        7,674        (6,016     1,658  

Computer software

     12,356        (9,116     3,240        11,746        (8,637     3,109  

Goodwill(i)

     46,555        (3,747     42,808        46,020        (3,747     42,273  

Other

     23,880        (8,949     14,931        21,526        (8,035     13,491  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Intangible assets

     90,573        (28,182     62,391        86,966        (26,435     60,531  
  

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

   

Other assets

          38,272             37,778  
       

 

 

         

 

 

 
          100,663             98,309  
       

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

(i)

Goodwill primarily relates to the acquisition of PetroChina United Pipelines Co., Ltd. (“Pipeline Goodwill”) completed in 2015 with carrying amount of RMB 34,285 as at December 31,2019. The impairment test of the Pipeline Goodwill is performed associated with the cash-generating unit of West-East Gas Pipeline. The recoverable amount is determined according to the higher of the cash-generating unit’s fair value less the net amount of disposal expense and the cash-generating unit’s expected present value of future cash flows. The cash flow projection used in the impairment test is based on management’s estimation and judgment of the parameters such as transportation volume, transportation price and operating costs of the West-East Gas Pipeline, and the post-tax discount rate of 7.2% (2018: 8.9%, 2017: 8.9%) reflecting the specific risks relating to the cash-generating unit. Based on the result of impairment test, no impairment loss was charged for the Pipeline Goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: nil, 2017: RMB 3,709).

For impairment test of the remaining goodwills, the post-tax discount rates ranged 6.5% to 10.5% (2018: 9.1% to 11.0%, 2017: 9.2% to 10.5%) were used by management, and no impairment loss was charged for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 38, 2017: RMB nil).

 

21

INVENTORIES

 

     December 31,
2019
    December 31,
2018
 
     RMB     RMB  

Crude oil and other raw materials

     56,166       58,188  

Work in progress

     15,159       14,241  

Finished goods

     112,003       110,103  

Spare parts and consumables

     88       53  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     183,416       182,585  

Less: Write down in inventories

     (1,495     (5,008
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     181,921       177,577  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

22

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

 

     December 31,
2019
    December 31,
2018
 
     RMB     RMB  

Accounts receivable

     66,615       63,575  

Less: Provision for impairment of receivables

     (2,431     (4,053
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     64,184       59,522  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The aging analysis of accounts receivable (net of impairment of accounts receivable) based on the invoice date (or date of revenue recognition, if earlier), at December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

 

     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB  

Within 1 year

     63,392        58,392  

Between 1 and 2 years

     419        837  

Between 2 and 3 years

     267        108  

Over 3 years

     106        185  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     64,184        59,522  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Group offers its customers credit terms up to 180 days.

Movements in the provision for impairment of accounts receivable are as follows:

 

     2019     2018     2017  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

At beginning of the year

     4,053       4,771       2,023  

Provision for impairment of accounts receivable

     226       561       2,813  

Reversal of provision for impairment of accounts receivable

     (1,604     (1,178     (7

Receivables written off as uncollectible

     (244     (101     (58
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At end of the year

     2,431       4,053       4,771  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

23

PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

 

     December 31,
2019
    December 31,
2018
 
     RMB     RMB  

Other receivables

     23,072       19,206  

Advances to suppliers

     17,747       18,253  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     40,819       37,459  

Less: Provision for impairment

     (3,413     (3,439
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     37,406       34,020  

Value-added tax to be deducted

     48,560       42,153  

Prepaid expenses

     360       1,068  

Prepaid income taxes

     5,649       1,261  

Other current assets

     11,152       10,843  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     103,127       89,345  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

24

NOTES RECEIVABLE

Notes receivable represent mainly bills of acceptance issued by banks for the sale of goods and performance of services. Notes receivable are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income. All notes receivable are due within one year, and their fair values approximate the face values of the bills.

 

25

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

The weighted average effective interest rate on bank deposits was 1.69% per annum for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: 1.55% per annum, 2017: 2.18% per annum).

 

26

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES

 

     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB  

Trade payables

     148,335        123,069  

Salaries and welfare payable

     10,169        10,189  

Dividends payable by subsidiaries to non-controlling shareholders

     389        355  

Interest payable

     4,719        2,978  

Construction fee and equipment cost payables

     111,767        123,602  

Other(i)

     52,935        39,655  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     328,314        299,848  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(i)

Other consists primarily of notes payables, insurance payable, etc.

The aging analysis of trade payables at December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

 

     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB  

Within 1 year

     136,670        113,370  

Between 1 and 2 years

     5,472        5,049  

Between 2 and 3 years

     3,180        2,386  

Over 3 years

     3,013        2,264  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     148,335        123,069  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

27

CONTRACT LIABILITIES

As of December 31, 2019, contract liabilities mainly represented advances from customers related to the sales of natural gas, crude oil and refined oil, etc. The majority of related obligations are expected to be performed and the corresponding revenue will be recognized within one year. The primary amount of contract liabilities at the beginning of the year has been recognized as revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

28

BORROWINGS

 

     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB  

Short-term borrowings excluding current portion of long-term borrowings

     90,497        69,780  

Current portion of long-term borrowings

     85,343        75,370  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     175,840        145,150  

Long-term borrowings

     290,882        269,422  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     466,722        414,572  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Borrowings of the Group of RMB 22,313 were guaranteed by CNPC, its fellow subsidiaries and a third party at December 31, 2019 (December 31, 2018: RMB 27,685).

The Group’s borrowings include secured liabilities totaling RMB 1,983 at December 31, 2019 (December 31, 2018: RMB 2,460).

 

     December 31,
2019
    December 31,
2018
 
     RMB     RMB  

Total borrowings:

    

– interest free

     124       129  

– at fixed rates

     250,297       208,876  

– at floating rates

     216,301       205,567  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     466,722       414,572  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average effective interest rates:

    

– bank loans

     3.20     3.43

– corporate debentures

     3.52     3.39

– medium-term notes

     3.63     3.68

– other loans

     3.80     4.07

The borrowings by major currencies at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are as follows:

 

     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB  

RMB

     356,704        297,847  

US Dollar

     100,374        107,473  

Other currency

     9,644        9,252  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     466,722        414,572  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The fair values of the Group’s long-term borrowings including the current portion of long-term borrowings are RMB 371,807 at December 31, 2019 (December 31, 2018: RMB 339,878). The carrying amounts of short-term borrowings approximate their fair values.

The fair values are based on discounted cash flows using applicable discount rates based upon the prevailing market rates of interest available to the Group for financial instruments with substantially the same terms and characteristics at the dates of the consolidated statement of financial position. Such discount rates ranged from

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

-0.27% to 4.90% per annum as of December 31, 2019 (December 31, 2018: -0.18% to 5.43% per annum) depending on the type of the borrowings.

The following table sets out the borrowings’ remaining contractual maturities at the date of the consolidated statement of financial position, which are based on contractual undiscounted cash flows including principal and interest, and the earliest contractual maturity date:

 

     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB  

Within 1 year

     188,771        158,782  

Between 1 and 2 years

     30,090        98,939  

Between 2 and 5 years

     253,918        150,837  

After 5 years

     31,576        43,879  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     504,355        452,437  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reconciliation of movements of borrowings to cash flows arising from financing activities:

 

     2019     2018  
     RMB     RMB  

At beginning of the year

     414,572       473,955  

Changes from financing cash flows:

    

Increase in borrowings

     836,458       704,281  

Repayments of borrowings

     (785,751     (770,141
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total changes from financing cash flows

     50,707       (65,860
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Exchange adjustments

     1,443       6,477  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

At end of the year

     466,722       414,572  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

29

SHARE CAPITAL

 

     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB  

Registered, issued and fully paid:

     

A shares

     161,922        161,922  

H shares

     21,099        21,099  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     183,021        183,021  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

In accordance with the Restructuring Agreement between CNPC and the Company effective as of November 5, 1999, the Company issued 160 billion state-owned shares in exchange for the assets and liabilities transferred to the Company by CNPC. The 160 billion state-owned shares were the initial registered capital of the Company with a par value of RMB 1.00 yuan per share.

On April 7, 2000, the Company issued 17,582,418,000 shares, represented by 13,447,897,000 H shares and 41,345,210 ADSs (each representing 100 H shares) in a global initial public offering (“Global Offering”) and the trading of the H shares and the ADSs on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the New York Stock Exchange commenced on April 7, 2000 and April 6, 2000, respectively. The H shares and ADSs were issued at

 

F-54


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

prices of HK$ 1.28 per H share and US$ 16.44 per ADS respectively for which the net proceeds to the Company were approximately RMB 20 billion. The shares issued pursuant to the Global Offering rank equally with existing shares.

Pursuant to the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, 1,758,242,000 state-owned shares of the Company owned by CNPC were converted into H shares for sale in the Global Offering.

On September 1, 2005, the Company issued an additional 3,196,801,818 new H shares at HK$ 6.00 per share and net proceeds to the Company amounted to approximately RMB 19,692. CNPC also sold 319,680,182 state-owned shares it held concurrently with PetroChina’s sale of new H shares in September 2005.

On October 31, 2007, the Company issued 4,000,000,000 new A shares at RMB 16.70 yuan per share and net proceeds to the Company amounted to approximately RMB 66,243 and the listing and trading of the A shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange commenced on November 5, 2007.

Following the issuance of the A shares, all the existing state-owned shares issued before November 5, 2007 held by CNPC have been registered with the China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited as A shares.

Shareholders’ rights are governed by the Company Law of the PRC that requires an increase in registered capital to be approved by the shareholders in shareholders’ general meetings and the relevant PRC regulatory authorities.

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

30

RESERVES

 

     2019     2018  
     RMB     RMB  

Capital Reserve

    

Beginning balance

     133,308       133,308  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

     133,308       133,308  

Statutory Common Reserve Fund(a)

    

Beginning balance

     194,245       188,769  

Transfer from retained earnings

     3,037       5,476  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

     197,282       194,245  

Special Reserve-Safety Fund Reserve

    

Beginning balance

     13,831       13,366  

Safety fund reserve

     (1,388     465  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

     12,443       13,831  

Currency Translation Differences(b)

    

Beginning balance

     (33,067     (28,045

Currency translation differences

     4,128       (5,022
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

     (28,939     (33,067

Other Reserves

    

Beginning balance

     (8,718     (9,336

Adjusted for the acquisition of Dalian West Pacific (Note 40)

     —         516  

Beginning balance, as adjusted

     (8,718     (8,820
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Transaction with non-controlling interests

     (2,007     13  

Fair value gain/(loss) from equity investments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income

     96       (162

Share of the other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method

     417       220  

Other

     129       31  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

     (10,083     (8,718
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     304,011       299,599  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Pursuant to the PRC regulations and the Company’s Articles of Association, the Company is required to transfer 10% of its net profit, as determined under the PRC accounting regulations, to a Statutory Common Reserve Fund (“Reserve Fund”). Appropriation to the Reserve Fund may cease when the fund aggregates to 50% of the Company’s registered capital. The transfer to this reserve must be made before distribution of dividends to shareholders.

The Reserve Fund shall only be used to make good previous years’ losses, to expand the Company’s production operations, or to increase the capital of the Company. Upon approval of a resolution of shareholders’ in a general meeting, the Company may convert its Reserve Fund into share capital and issue bonus shares to existing shareholders in proportion to their original shareholdings or to increase the nominal value of each share currently held by them, provided that the balance of the Reserve Fund after such issuance is not less than 25% of the Company’s registered capital.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

(b)

The translation reserve comprises all foreign currency differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign operations.

(c)

According to the relevant PRC regulations, the distributable reserve is the lower of the retained earnings computed under PRC accounting regulations and IFRS. As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s distributable reserve amounted to RMB 590,727 (December 31, 2018: RMB 594,169).

 

31

DEFERRED TAXATION

The movements in the deferred taxation account are as follows:

 

     2019     2018     2017  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

At beginning of the year

     6,483       14,064       6,720  

Transfer to profit and loss (Note 12)

     (3,485     (7,807     7,539  

(Debit) / credit to other comprehensive income

     (150     226       (195
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At end of the year

     2,848       6,483       14,064  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax balances before offset are attributable to the following items:

 

     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB  

Deferred tax assets:

     

Receivables and inventories

     6,841        8,528  

Tax losses

     20,391        26,027  

Impairment of long-term assets

     9,676        7,838  

Other

     8,643        7,187  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

     45,551        49,580  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

     

Accelerated tax depreciation

     27,646        27,948  

Other

     15,057        15,149  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

     42,703        43,097  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

     2,848        6,483  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Tax losses that can be carried forward to future years include deferred tax assets arising from the losses of the branches in the Eastern China Region. The tax expenses of the Company’s branches in the Eastern and Western China Regions were paid in aggregate according to the requirements of the competent tax authority.

Deferred tax balances after offset are listed as follows:

 

     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018
 
     RMB      RMB  

Deferred tax assets

     24,259        23,498  

Deferred tax liabilities

     21,411        17,015  

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

32

ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS

 

     2019     2018     2017  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

At beginning of the year

     132,780       131,546       125,392  

Net liabilities incurred, including reassessment

     2,026       (2,220     2,981  

Liabilities settled

     (2,427     (2,034     (2,012

Accretion expense (Note 10)

     5,525       5,678       5,453  

Currency translation differences

     31       (190     (268
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

At end of the year

     137,935       132,780       131,546  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Asset retirement obligations relate to oil and gas properties (Note 15).

 

33

PENSIONS

The Group participates in various employee retirement benefit plans (Note 3(y)). Expenses incurred by the Group in connection with the retirement benefit plans for the year ended December 31, 2019 amounted to RMB 20,196 (2018: RMB 19,432, 2017: RMB 16,054).

 

34

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

(a) Bank and other guarantees

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Group did not guarantee related parties or third parties any significant borrowings or others.

(b) Environmental liabilities

China has adopted extensive environmental laws and regulations that affect the operation of the oil and gas industry. Under existing legislation, however, management believes that there are no probable liabilities, except for the amounts which have already been reflected in the consolidated financial statements, which may have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Group.

(c) Legal contingencies

During the reporting period, the Group has complied with domestic and overseas laws and regulatory requirements. Notwithstanding certain insignificant lawsuits as well as other proceedings outstanding, management believes that any resulting liabilities will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position of the Group.

(d) Group insurance

The Group has insurance coverage for vehicles and certain assets that are subject to significant operating risks, third-party liability insurance against claims relating to personal injury, property and environmental damages that result from accidents and also employer liabilities insurance. The potential effect on the financial position of the Group of any liabilities resulting from future uninsured incidents cannot be estimated by the Group at present.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

35

COMMITMENTS

(a) Operating lease commitments

Operating lease commitments of the Group are mainly for leasing of land, buildings and equipment. Leases range from 1 to 50 years and usually do not contain renewal options. Future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2018 under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows:

 

     December 31, 2018  
     RMB  

No later than 1 year

     12,664  

Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years

     39,222  

Later than 5 years

     176,049  
  

 

 

 
     227,935  
  

 

 

 

The Group is the lessee in respective of a number of properties, plant and equipment held under leases which were previously classified as operating leases under IAS 17. The Group has initially applied IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective approach. Under this approach, the comparative information is not restated (see Note 3(aa)). From January 1, 2019 onwards future lease payments recognized as lease liabilities in the statement of financial position.

(b) Capital commitments

At December 31, 2019, the Group’s capital commitments contracted but not provided for mainly relating to property, plant and equipment were RMB 56,856 (December 31, 2018: RMB 41,989).

The operating lease and capital commitments above are transactions mainly with CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries.

(c) Exploration and production licenses

The Company is obligated to make annual payments with respect to its exploration and production licenses to the Ministry of Natural Resources. Payments incurred were RMB 535 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 650, 2017: RMB 609).

According to the current policy, estimated annual payments for the next five years are as follows:

 

     December 31, 2019      December 31, 2018  
     RMB      RMB  

Within one year

     800        800  

Between one and two years

     800        800  

Between two and three years

     800        800  

Between three and four years

     800        800  

Between four and five years

     800        800  

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

36

MAJOR CUSTOMERS

The Group’s major customers are as follows:

 

     2019      2018      2017  
     Revenue      Percentage
of Total

revenue
     Revenue      Percentage
of Total

revenue
     Revenue      Percentage
of Total

revenue
 
     RMB      %      RMB      %      RMB      %  

China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation

     105,855        4        96,990        4        65,767        3  

CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries

     99,279        4        83,670        4        92,173        5  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     205,134        8        180,660        8        157,940        8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

37

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

CNPC, the controlling shareholder of the Company, is a limited liability company directly controlled by the PRC government.

Related parties include CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries, their associates and joint ventures, other state-owned enterprises and their subsidiaries which the PRC government has control, joint control or significant influence over and enterprises which the Group is able to control, jointly control or exercise significant influence over, key management personnel of the Company and CNPC and their close family members.

(a) Transactions with CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures of the Group

The Group has extensive transactions with other companies in CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries. Due to these relationships, it is possible that the terms of the transactions between the Group and other members of CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries are not the same as those that would result from transactions with other related parties or wholly unrelated parties.

The principal related party transactions with CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures of the Group which were carried out in the ordinary course of business, are as follows:

On August 25, 2011, based on the terms of the Comprehensive Products and Services Agreement amended in 2008, the Company and CNPC entered into a new Comprehensive Products and Services Agreement (“the Comprehensive Products and Services Agreement”) for a period of three years which took effect on January 1, 2012. The Comprehensive Products and Services Agreement provides for a range of products and services which may be required and requested by either party. The products and services to be provided by CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries to the Group under the Comprehensive Products and Services Agreement include construction and technical services, production services, supply of material services, social services, ancillary services and financial services. The products and services required and requested by either party are provided in accordance with (1) government-prescribed prices; or (2) where there is no government-prescribed price, with reference to relevant market prices; or (3) where neither (1) nor (2) is applicable, the actual cost incurred or the agreed contractual price. On the basis of the existing Comprehensive Products and Services Agreement, the Company and CNPC entered into a new Comprehensive Products and Services Agreement on August 24, 2017 for a period of three years which took effect on January 1, 2018. The new Comprehensive Products and Services Agreement has already incorporated the terms of the current Comprehensive Products and previous Services Agreement.

On August 25, 2011, based on the Land Use Rights Leasing Contract signed in 2000, the Company and CNPC entered into a Supplemental Land Use Rights Leasing Contract which took effect on January 1, 2012. The

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Company and CNPC each issued a confirmation letter to the Land Use Rights Leasing Contract on August 24, 2017, which adjusted the rental payable and the area for the leased land parcels. The Company agreed to rent from CNPC parcels of land with an aggregate area of approximately 1,773 million square meters with annual rental payable (exclusive of tax and government charges) adjusted to no more than RMB 5,783 in accordance with the area of leased land parcels and the current situation of the property market. The Land Use Rights Leasing Contract shall remain unchanged, apart from the rental payable and the leased area. The confirmation letter shall be effective from January 1, 2018.

On August 25, 2011, based on the Buildings Leasing Contract and Supplemental Building Leasing Agreement, the Company and CNPC entered into a Revised Buildings Leasing Contract which took effect thereafter. On August 24, 2017, based on the Buildings Leasing Contract and Supplemental Building Leasing Agreement, the Company and CNPC entered into a Revised Buildings Leasing Contract which took effect on January 1, 2018. Under this contract, buildings covering an aggregate area of 1,152,968 square meters were leased at annual rental payable approximately RMB 730. The Revised Building Leasing Contract will expire at December 31, 2037. The area and total fee payable for the lease of all such property may, every three years, be adjusted with the Company’s operating needs and by reference to market price which the adjusted prices will not exceed.

 

   

Sales of goods represent the sale of crude oil, refined products, chemical products and natural gas, etc. The total amount of these transactions amounted to RMB 122,927 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 105,434, 2017: RMB 113,306).

 

   

Sales of services principally represent the provision of services in connection with the transportation of crude oil and natural gas, etc. The total amount of these transactions amounted to RMB 10,055 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 7,938, 2017: RMB 6,160).

 

   

Purchases of goods and services principally represent construction and technical services, production services, social services, ancillary services and material supply services, etc. The total amount of these transactions amounted to RMB 388,802 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 364,912, 2017: RMB 330,379).

 

   

Purchases of assets principally represent the purchases of manufacturing equipment, office equipment and transportation equipment, etc. The total amount of these transactions amounted to RMB 1,701 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 1,195, 2017: RMB 1,634).

 

   

Interest income represents interests from deposits placed with CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries. The total interest income amounted to RMB 460 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 535, 2017: RMB 425). The balance of deposits at December 31, 2019 was RMB 28,304 (December 31, 2018: RMB 22,532).

 

   

Purchases of financial service principally represents interest charged on the loans from CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries, insurance fee, etc. The total amount of these transactions amounted to RMB 8,759 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018: RMB 11,970, 2017: RMB 11,294).

 

   

The borrowings from CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries at December 31, 2019 were RMB 179,699 (December 31, 2018: RMB 196,161).

 

   

Rents and other payments paid to CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries represent (1) the rental expense paid by the Group according to Land Use Rights Leasing Contract and Buildings Leasing Contract; (2) the payable by the Group (including all rents, leasing service fees and prices for exercising purchase options) for the period according to the leasing agreements entered into by the Group and CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries. The total rents and other payments amounted to RMB 10,106 for the year ended December 31, 2019. (2018: RMB 7,092, 2017: RMB 7,351).

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Amounts due from and to CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures of the Group included in the following accounts captions are summarized as follows:

 

     December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018 Note
 
     RMB      RMB  

Accounts receivable

     12,784        11,896  

Prepayments and other receivables

     11,441        11,467  

Other current assets

     11,951        7,852  

Other non-current assets

     16,242        16,511  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     61,205        64,511  

Contract liabilities

     792        568  

Lease liabilities

     139,250        —    

Other non-current liabilities

     827        2,296  

Note: The Group has initially applied IFRS 16 at January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. Under this approach, the comparative information is not restated (see Note 3(aa)).

(b) Key management compensation

 

     Year End December 31,  
     2019      2018      2017  
     RMB’000      RMB’000      RMB’000  

Emoluments and other benefits

     13,042        13,385        11,779  

Contribution to retirement benefit scheme

     1,796        1,781        1,645  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     14,838        15,166        13,424  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(c) Transactions with other state-controlled entities in the PRC

Apart from transactions with CNPC and its fellow subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures of the Group, the Group’s transactions with other state-controlled entities include but is not limited to the following:

 

   

Sales and purchases of goods and services,

 

   

Purchases of assets,

 

   

Lease of assets; and

 

   

Bank deposits and borrowings

These transactions are conducted in the ordinary course of the Group’s business.

 

38

SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Group is principally engaged in a broad range of petroleum related products, services and activities. The Group’s operating segments comprise: Exploration and Production, Refining and Chemicals, Marketing, and Natural Gas and Pipeline. On the basis of these operating segments, the management of the Company assesses the segmental operating results and allocates resources. Sales between operating segments are conducted principally at market prices. Additionally, the Group presents geographical information based on entities located in regions with a similar risk profile.

 

F-62


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

The Exploration and Production segment is engaged in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas.

The Refining and Chemicals segment is engaged in the refining of crude oil and petroleum products, production and marketing of primary petrochemical products, derivative petrochemical products and other chemical products.

The Marketing segment is engaged in the marketing of refined products and the trading business.

The Natural Gas and Pipeline segment is engaged in the transmission of natural gas, crude oil and refined products and the sale of natural gas.

The Head Office and Other segment relates to cash management and financing activities, the corporate center, research and development, and other business services supporting the operating business segments of the Group.

The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same as those described in Note 3 – “Summary of Principal Accounting Policies”.

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

The segment information for the operating segments for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

 

    Year Ended December 31, 2019  
    Exploration
and
Production
    Refining
and
Chemicals
    Marketing     Natural
Gas and
Pipeline
    Head
Office and
Other
    Total  
    RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Revenue

    676,320       902,679       2,165,391       391,023       3,700       4,139,113  

Less: intersegment sales

    (552,672     (712,178     (315,157     (40,652     (1,644     (1,622,303
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue from external customers

    123,648       190,501       1,850,234       350,371       2,056       2,516,810  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (158,874     (24,995     (17,131     (22,375     (1,887     (225,262

Including: Impairment losses of property, plant and equipment

    (11,562     (1,444     (1     (412     —         (13,419

Profit / (loss) from operations

    96,097       13,764       (565     26,108       (13,642     121,762  

Finance costs:

           

Exchange gain

              10,017  

Exchange loss

              (10,016

Interest income

              3,631  

Interest expense

              (30,409
           

 

 

 

Total net finance costs

              (26,777
           

 

 

 

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures

    3,513       58       1,402       501       2,755       8,229  
           

 

 

 

Profit before income tax expense

              103,214  

Income tax expense

              (36,199
           

 

 

 

Profit for the year

              67,015  
           

 

 

 

Segment assets

    1,520,697       365,013       524,321       536,298       1,409,368       4,355,697  

Other assets

              29,908  

Investments in associates and joint ventures

    45,721       1,022       19,159       9,713       26,458       102,073  

Elimination of intersegment balances(a)

              (1,754,768
           

 

 

 

Total assets

              2,732,910  
           

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

    230,117       21,279       17,618       27,004       758       296,776  

Segment liabilities

    720,028       132,018       324,822       277,370       594,000       2,048,238  

Other liabilities

              88,793  

Elimination of intersegment balances(a)

              (848,426
           

 

 

 

Total liabilities

              1,288,605  
           

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

    Year Ended December 31, 2018  
    Exploration
and
Production
    Refining
and
Chemicals
    Marketing     Natural
Gas and
Pipeline
    Head
Office and
Other
    Total  
    RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Revenue

    658,712       911,224       2,003,105       362,626       2,376       3,938,043  

Less: intersegment sales

    (539,295     (706,559     (280,750     (35,899     (606     (1,563,109
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue from external customers

    119,417       204,665       1,722,355       326,727       1,770       2,374,934  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (169,622     (25,318     (13,511     (21,985     (1,840     (232,276

Including: Impairment losses of property, plant and equipment

    (26,002     (3,393     —         (530     —         (29,925

Profit / (loss) from operations

    73,519       44,701       (6,450     25,515       (14,343     122,942  

Finance costs:

           

Exchange gain

              12,701  

Exchange loss

              (11,581

Interest income

              3,779  

Interest expense

              (22,718
           

 

 

 

Total net finance costs

              (17,819
           

 

 

 

Share of profit of associates and joint ventures

    4,224       63       4,214       496       2,650       11,647  
           

 

 

 

Profit before income tax expense

              116,770  

Income tax expense

              (42,790
           

 

 

 

Profit for the year

              73,980  
           

 

 

 

Segment assets

    1,227,613       324,639       429,854       519,553       1,371,525       3,873,184  

Other assets

              24,759  

Investments in associates and joint ventures

    39,235       1,010       17,437       7,022       24,658       89,362  

Elimination of intersegment balances(a)

              (1,546,428
           

 

 

 

Total assets

              2,440,877  
           

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

    196,109       15,419       17,010       26,502       1,066       256,106  

Segment liabilities

    466,097       59,139       239,187       158,153       566,129       1,488,705  

Other liabilities

              100,303  

Elimination of intersegment balances(a)

              (557,022
           

 

 

 

Total liabilities

              1,031,986  
           

 

 

 

 

F-65


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

    Year Ended December 31, 2017  
    Exploration
and
Production
    Refining
and
Chemicals
    Marketing     Natural
Gas and
Pipeline
    Head
Office and
Other
    Total  
    RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Revenue

    505,430       735,486       1,660,456       295,786       2,057       3,199,215  

Less: intersegment sales

    (409,303     (546,560     (179,846     (30,550     (658     (1,166,917
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenue from external customers

    96,127       188,926       1,480,610       265,236       1,399       2,032,298  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (169,484     (32,751     (12,734     (21,146     (1,692     (237,807

Including: Impairment losses of property, plant and equipment

    (6,565     (10,223     (7     (1,150     (2     (17,947

Profit / (loss) from operations

    15,475       43,075       8,279       15,688       (11,681     70,836  

Finance costs:

           

Exchange gain

              8,252  

Exchange loss

              (9,436

Interest income

              2,912  

Interest expense

              (22,841
           

 

 

 

Total net finance costs

              (21,113
           

 

 

 

Share of profit / (loss) of associates and joint ventures

    1,716       (89     1,501       279       2,561       5,968  
           

 

 

 

Profit before income tax expense

              55,691  

Income tax expense

              (16,296
           

 

 

 

Profit for the year

              39,395  
           

 

 

 

Segment assets

    1,211,912       327,186       397,813       519,249       1,357,803       3,813,963  

Other assets

              26,724  

Investments in associates and joint ventures

    39,517       1,375       11,938       5,534       22,795       81,159  

Elimination of intersegment balances(a)

              (1,508,347
           

 

 

 

Total assets

              2,413,499  
           

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

    161,997       17,859       10,982       24,529       1,014       216,381  

Segment liabilities

    525,085       91,632       199,340       120,244       589,460       1,525,761  

Other liabilities

              70,666  

Elimination of intersegment balances(a)

              (560,916
           

 

 

 

Total liabilities

              1,035,511  
           

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Geographical information

 

     Revenue      Non-current assets(b)  
     2019      2018      2017      December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2018(c)
 
     RMB      RMB      RMB      RMB      RMB  

Mainland China

     1,476,693        1,538,315        1,302,695        2,027,428        1,782,624  

Other

     1,040,117        836,619        729,603        213,268        192,675  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,516,810        2,374,934        2,032,298        2,240,696        1,975,299  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a)

Elimination of intersegment balances represents elimination of intersegment accounts and investments.

(b)

Non-current assets mainly include non-current assets other than financial instruments and deferred tax assets.

(c)

The Group has initially applied IFRS 16 at January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach. Under this approach, the comparative information is not restated (see Note 3(aa)).

 

39

APPROVAL OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on April 29, 2020.

 

40

BUSINESS COMBINATION INVOLVING ENTITIES UNDER COMMON CONTROL

Business combination involving entities under common control during the period

 

Name of acquiree

  Proportion of
equity
interests
acquired in
business
combination
   

Basis for business
combination under
common control

  Acquisition
Date
  Basis for
determination
of acquisition
date
  From the beginning of
the period to the
acquisition date
    2018  
  Revenue     Net
profit
    Net cash
outflow
    Revenue     Net
profit
 

Dalian West Pacific

    56.04   The Company and Dalian West Pacific are under the ultimate control of CNPC before and after the business combination and the control is not temporary   May 31,
2019
  Acquisition
of actual
control
    10,763       1       (53     37,385       1,564  

Dalian West Pacific was established in December 1990. It principally engages in the manufacturing and sale of petroleum and petrochemical products. Before the acquisition date, the Company holds 28.44% equity of Dalian West Pacific. After the completion of the equity acquisition, the Company holds 84.48% equity of Dalian West Pacific in total.

As the Company and Dalian West Pacific are under the ultimate control of CNPC and the control is not temporary. The acquisition of Dalian West Pacific has been reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements as combination of entities under common control. Consequently, Dalian West Pacific has been included in the scope of consolidation during the historical period. The opening balance of the final consolidated financial statements of 2019 and the comparative statements have been adjusted accordingly.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

The financial position as at December 31, 2018 and results of operation for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 previously reported by the Group have been restated to include the assets and liabilities and the results of operations of Dalian West Pacific on a consolidation basis as set out below:

 

    The Group, as
previously
reported
    Dalian West
Pacific
    Consolidation
adjustment
    The Group,
as restated
 
    RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Summarized statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2017:

       

Revenue

    2,015,890       27,715       (11,307     2,032,298  

Total operating expenses

    (1,948,168     (24,601     11,307       (1,961,462

Profit from operations

    67,722       3,114       —         70,836  

Profit for the year

    36,793       2,602       —         39,395  

Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company

    22,798       2,602       (1,863     23,537  

Profit for the year attributable to non-controlling interests

    13,995       —         1,863       15,858  

Basic and diluted earnings per share (RMB Yuan)

    0.12           0.13  

Summarized statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2018:

       

Revenue

    2,353,588       37,385       (16,039     2,374,934  

Total operating expenses

    (2,232,591     (35,440     16,039       (2,251,992

Profit from operations

    120,997       1,945       —         122,942  

Profit for the year

    72,416       1,564       —         73,980  

Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Company

    52,591       1,564       (1,119     53,036  

Profit for the year attributable to non-controlling interests

    19,825       —         1,119       20,944  

Basic and diluted earnings per share (RMB Yuan)

    0.29           0.29  

Summarized financial position as at December 31, 2018:

       

Current assets

    433,128       5,126       (13     438,241  

Non-current assets

    1,999,138       3,498       —         2,002,636  

Total assets

    2,432,266       8,624       (13     2,440,877  

Current liabilities

    586,386       10,057       (13     596,430  

Non-current liabilities

    435,222       334       —         435,556  

Total liabilities

    1,021,608       10,391       (13     1,031,986  

Non-controlling interests

    196,372       —         (1,264     195,108  

Total equity attributable to owner of the Company

    1,214,286       (1,767     1,264       1,213,783  

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

41

LEASES

The leases where the Group is a lessee

(a) Right-of-use assets

 

     January 1,
2019
     Addition     Reduction     December 31,
2019
 

Cost

         

Land

     153,178        20,471       (752     172,897  

Buildings

     83,552        8,368       —         91,920  

Equipment and Machinery

     2,295        639       —         2,934  

Other

     1,617        451       —         2,068  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     240,642        29,929       (752     269,819  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated depreciation

         

Land

     —          (6,696     101       (6,595

Buildings

     —          (7,369     —         (7,369

Equipment and Machinery

     —          (718     —         (718

Other

     —          (401     —         (401
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     —          (15,184     101       (15,083
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net book value

         

Land

     153,178            166,302  

Buildings

     83,552            84,551  

Equipment and Machinery

     2,295            2,216  

Other

     1,617            1,667  
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

Total

     240,642            254,736  
  

 

 

        

 

 

 

The Group’s leasing of land principally represents use rights of land, the remaining lease term is from 2 years to 30 years. The Group’s leasing classified as buildings principally represents gas station, gas and gasoline storage and office buildings. The Group’s leasing classified as equipment and machinery principally represents drilling equipment, manufacturing facilities, and other movable equipment.

(b) Lease liabilities

 

     December 31, 2019  

Lease liabilities

     171,536  

Less: Lease liabilities due within one year

     (7,393
  

 

 

 
     164,143  
  

 

 

 

Depreciation charged to profit or loss provided on right-of-use assets for the year ended December 31, 2019 was RMB 14,973.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Analysis of the undiscounted cash flow of the lease liability is as follows:

 

     December 31, 2019  
     RMB  

Within 1 year

     14,304  

Between 1 and 2 years

     13,569  

Between 2 and 5 years

     37,531  

Over 5 years

     210,750  
  

 

 

 
     276,154  
  

 

 

 

 

42

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD

 

  (1)

Impact of COVID-19

January 2020 witnessed an outbreak of COVID-19, and China is set to take its toll on the Chinese economy. The Group was also significantly affected by the COVID-19, such that the market demand for, and the prices of, the Company’s oil and gas products have declined, and the operation and management of oil and gas industrial chain became more complicated and difficult. The Group actively set up an anti-COVID-19 steering team to arrange in time for various steps to be taken in response, safeguarding the health of its employees in addition to safe and well-ordered production and operation, broadening sources of income and reducing expenditure as well as cutting costs and enhancing efficiency, controlling the capital expenditures and costs, optimizing debt settlement structure, actively promoting price promotion, and accelerating the development of domestic natural gas business, thus trying to minimize the loss arising therefrom and ensure sustainable business development in the long run. As of the issuance date of these financial statements, there is still significant uncertainty about the short-term and long-term adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global and Chinese economy and financial markets, as such, we cannot reasonably estimate the short-term or long-term impact of the COVID-19 on the business operation and financial performance of the Group.

 

  (2)

Short-term readjustment of natural gas price

On February 22, 2020, NDRC issued the Notice on Interim Reduction of Gas Cost for Non-resident Use to Support Resumption of Work and Production (Fa Gai Jia Ge [2020] No. 257) (《關於階段性降低非居民用氣成本支持企業復工複產的通知》(發改價格〔 2020257號)) (the “Notice”) pursuant to which, to act on the government’s guideline in respect of proper coordination of anti-COVID-19 efforts as well as economic and social development, the cost of non-resident use of gas will be lowered in the short term. Starting from the date thereof to June 30, 2020, off-season price policies shall be implemented in advance for the city gate prices of natural gas for non-resident use, greater price discounts shall be provided to industries, such as chemical fertilizers, which are deeply affected by the COVID-19, and the end-user prices of natural gas should reduce timely. The sales revenue and profits of natural gas sales of our Group will be affected to certain extent, however, we will go on optimizing our production and operation and pushing ahead sustainable and high-quality business development.

 

  (3)

The price of international crude oil fell sharply

Since the beginning of March 2020, due to unfavorable outlook of the world economy affected by the COVID-19 and oversupply of crude oil in the global market, international crude oil prices have fallen sharply. The decline in international crude oil prices has adversely affected the Group’s sales revenue and profits, the Group actively takes measures to deal with the risks of crude oil price fluctuations, and strives to maintain stable and healthy development of production and operations.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

In accordance with the Accounting Standards Update 2010-03 Extractive Activities – Oil and Gas (Topic 932): Oil and Gas Reserve Estimation and Disclosures (an update of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 932 Extractive Activities – Oil and Gas or “ASC 932”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and corresponding disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, this section provides supplemental information on oil and gas exploration and development; and results of operation related to oil and gas producing activities of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) and also the Group’s investments that are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

The supplemental information presented below covers the Group’s proved oil and gas reserves estimates, historical cost information pertaining to capitalized costs, costs incurred for property acquisitions, exploration and development activities, result of operations for oil and gas producing activities, standardized measure of estimated discounted future net cash flows and changes in estimated discounted future net cash flows.

The “Other” geographic area includes oil and gas producing activities principally in countries such as Kazakhstan, Venezuela and Indonesia. As the Group does not have significant reserves held through its investments accounted for using the equity method, information presented in relation to these equity method investments is presented in the aggregate.

Proved Oil and Gas Reserve Estimates

Proved oil and gas reserves cannot be measured exactly. Reserve estimates are based on many factors related to reservoir performance that require evaluation by the engineers interpreting the available data, as well as price and other economic factors. The reliability of these estimates at any point in time depends on both the quality and quantity of the technical and economic data, and the production performance of the reservoirs as well as engineering judgment. Consequently, reserve estimates are subject to revision as additional data become available during the producing life of a reservoir. When a commercial reservoir is discovered, proved reserves are initially determined based on limited data from the first well or wells. Subsequent data may better define the extent of the reservoir and additional production performance, well tests and engineering studies will likely improve the reliability of the reserve estimate. The evolution of technology may also result in the application of improved recovery techniques such as supplemental or enhanced recovery projects, or both, which have the potential to increase reserves.

Proved oil and gas reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil and natural gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulation before the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether the estimate is a deterministic estimate or probabilistic estimate.

Existing economic conditions include prices and costs at which economic producibility from a reservoir is to be determined. The price shall be the average price during the 12-month period before the ending date of the period covered by this report, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future conditions. The costs shall be that prevailing at the end of the period.

Proved developed oil and gas reserves are proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered:

 

  a.

Through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared with the cost of a new well.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

  b.

Through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well.

Proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves are proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion.

The taxes, fees and royalty in China are domestic tax schemes and are paid in cash to PRC authorities. The proved reserves includes quantities that are ultimately produced and sold to pay these taxes, fees and royalty.

Proved reserve estimates as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were based on reports prepared by DeGolyer and MacNaughton, Gaffney, Cline & Associates, McDaniel & Associates, Ryder Scott and GLJ independent engineering consultants.

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Estimated quantities of net proved crude oil and condensate and natural gas reserves and of changes in net quantities of proved developed and undeveloped reserves for each of the periods indicated are as follows:

 

     Crude Oil and
Condensate
    Natural Gas     Total – All
products
 
     (million
barrels)
    (billion cubic
feet)
    (million
barrels of oil
equivalent)
 

Proved developed and undeveloped reserves

      

The Group

      

Reserves at December 31, 2016

     7,438       78,712       20,556  

Changes resulting from:

      

Revisions of previous estimates

     486       (1,751     195  

Improved recovery

     98       —         98  

Extensions and discoveries

     346       3,350       905  

Production

     (887     (3,423     (1,458
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reserves at December 31, 2017

     7,481       76,888       20,296  

Changes resulting from:

      

Revisions of previous estimates

     526       (1,378     297  

Improved recovery

     96       —         96  

Extensions and discoveries

     428       4,565       1,188  

Production

     (890     (3,608     (1,492
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reserves at December 31, 2018

     7,641       76,467       20,385  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes resulting from:

      

Revisions of previous estimates

     (50     (766     (177

Improved recovery

     91       —         91  

Extensions and discoveries

     480       4,443       1,221  

Production

     (909     (3,908     (1,561
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reserves at December 31, 2019

     7,253       76,236       19,959  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Proved developed reserves at:

      

December 31, 2017

     5,593       39,243       12,133  

December 31, 2018

     5,843       40,128       12,531  

December 31, 2019

     5,474       39,870       12,119  

Proved undeveloped reserves at:

      

December 31, 2017

     1,888       37,645       8,163  

December 31, 2018

     1,798       36,339       7,854  

December 31, 2019

     1,779       36,366       7,840  

Equity method investments

      

Share of proved developed and undeveloped reserves of associates and joint ventures

      

December 31, 2017

     395       372       457  

December 31, 2018

     321       429       393  

December 31, 2019

     287       394       353  

At December 31, 2019, total proved developed and undeveloped reserves of the Group and equity method investments is 20,312 million barrels of oil equivalent (December 31, 2018: 20,778 million barrels of oil

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

equivalent, December 31, 2017: 20,753 million barrels of oil equivalent), comprising 7,540 million barrels of crude oil and condensate (December 31, 2018: 7,962 million barrels, December 31, 2017: 7,876 million barrels) and 76,630 billion cubic feet of natural gas (December 31, 2018: 76,896 billion cubic feet, December 31, 2017: 77,260 billion cubic feet).

At December 31, 2019, 6,500 million barrels (December 31, 2018: 6,830 million barrels, December 31, 2017: 6,622 million barrels) of crude oil and condensate and 74,533 billion cubic feet (December 31, 2018: 74,480 billion cubic feet, December 31, 2017: 74,702 billion cubic feet) of natural gas proved developed and undeveloped reserves of the Group are located within Mainland China, and 753 million barrels (December 31, 2018: 811 million barrels, December 31, 2017: 859 million barrels) of crude oil and condensate and 1,703 billion cubic feet (December 31, 2018: 1,987 billion cubic feet, December 31, 2017: 2,186 billion cubic feet) of natural gas proved developed and undeveloped reserves of the Group are located overseas.

Capitalized Costs

 

     December 31,
2019
    December 31,
2018
 
     RMB     RMB  

The Group

    

Property costs and producing assets

     1,820,481       1,692,861  

Support facilities

     440,722       420,505  

Construction-in-progress

     149,068       119,501  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalized costs

     2,410,271       2,232,867  

Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (1,429,389     (1,312,907
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net capitalized costs

     980,882       919,960  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity method investments

    

Share of net capitalized costs of associates and joint ventures

     24,785       25,963  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs Incurred for Property Acquisitions, Exploration and Development Activities

 

     2019  
     Mainland
China
     Other      Total  
     RMB      RMB      RMB  

The Group

        

Exploration costs

     41,687        1,972        43,659  

Development costs

     166,321        21,375        187,696  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     208,008        23,347        231,355  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity method investments

        

Share of costs of property acquisition, exploration and development of associates and joint ventures

     —          2,178        2,178  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

     2018  
     Mainland
China
     Other      Total  
     RMB      RMB      RMB  

The Group

        

Exploration costs

     33,618        1,546        35,164  

Development costs

     134,634        25,047        159,681  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     168,252        26,593        194,845  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity method investments

        

Share of costs of property acquisition, exploration and development of associates and joint ventures

     —          3,114        3,114  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     2017  
     Mainland
China
     Other      Total  
     RMB      RMB      RMB  

The Group

        

Exploration costs

     31,585        984        32,569  

Development costs

     110,104        18,596        128,700  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     141,689        19,580        161,269  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Equity method investments

        

Share of costs of property acquisition, exploration and development of associates and joint ventures

     —          2,503        2,503  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Results of Operations for Oil and Gas Producing Activities

The results of operations for oil and gas producing activities for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 are presented below. “Revenue” includes sales to third parties and inter-segment sales (at arm’s-length prices), net of value-added taxes. Resource tax, crude oil special gain levy and other taxes are included in “taxes other than income taxes”. Income taxes are computed using the applicable statutory tax rate, reflecting tax deductions and tax credits for the respective years ended.

 

     2019  
     Mainland China     Other     Total  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

The Group

      

Revenue

      

Sales to third parties

     44,001       50,611       94,612  

Inter-segment sales

     379,968       14,956       394,924  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     423,969       65,567       489,536  

Production costs excluding taxes

     (127,900     (11,011     (138,911

Exploration expenses

     (19,821     (954     (20,775

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (115,648     (24,792     (140,440

Taxes other than income taxes

     (24,876     (5,853     (30,729

Accretion expense

     (5,294     (231     (5,525

Income taxes

     (24,085     (11,729     (35,814
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Results of operations from producing activities

     106,345       10,997       117,342  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity method investments

      

Share of profit for producing activities of associates and joint ventures

     —         3,253       3,253  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total of the Group and equity method investments results of operations for producing activities

     106,345       14,250       120,595  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

     2018  
     Mainland China     Other     Total  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

The Group

      

Revenue

      

Sales to third parties

     46,051       57,975       104,026  

Inter-segment sales

     381,740       4,542       386,282  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     427,791       62,517       490,308  

Production costs excluding taxes

     (118,979     (9,761     (128,740

Exploration expenses

     (17,767     (959     (18,726

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (120,378     (33,008     (153,386

Taxes other than income taxes

     (30,140     (6,262     (36,402

Accretion expense

     (5,483     (195     (5,678

Income taxes

     (25,991     (10,114     (36,105
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Results of operations from producing activities

     109,053       2,218       111,271  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity method investments

      

Share of profit for producing activities of associates and joint ventures

     —         3,867       3,867  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total of the Group and equity method investments results of operations for producing activities

     109,053       6,085       115,138  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     2017  
     Mainland China     Other     Total  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

The Group

      

Revenue

      

Sales to third parties

     39,588       39,330       78,918  

Inter-segment sales

     305,336       5,082       310,418  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     344,924       44,412       389,336  

Production costs excluding taxes

     (112,182     (7,830     (120,012

Exploration expenses

     (16,732     (7,152     (23,884

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (135,703     (18,436     (154,139

Taxes other than income taxes

     (20,624     (3,534     (24,158

Accretion expense

     (5,212     (241     (5,453

Income taxes

     (12,098     (3,667     (15,765
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Results of operations from producing activities

     42,373       3,552       45,925  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity method investments

      

Share of profit for producing activities of associates and joint ventures

     —         2,050       2,050  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total of the Group and equity method investments results of operations for producing activities

     42,373       5,602       47,975  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-77


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to proved oil and gas reserves at December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 is based on the prices used in estimating the Group’s proved oil and gas reserves, year-end costs, currently enacted tax rates related to existing proved oil and gas reserves and a 10% annual discount factor. “Future cash inflows” are net of value-added taxes. Corporate income taxes are included in “future income tax expense”. Other taxes are included in “future production costs” as production taxes.

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to proved oil and gas reserves at December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

 

     RMB  

The Group

  

At December 31, 2019

  

Future cash inflows

     5,872,624  

Future production costs

     (1,947,039

Future development costs

     (640,281

Future income tax expense

     (746,506
  

 

 

 

Future net cash flows

     2,538,798  

Discount at 10% for estimated timing of cash flows

     (1,213,729
  

 

 

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

     1,325,069  
  

 

 

 

 

     RMB  

The Group

  

At December 31, 2018

  

Future cash inflows

     6,234,378  

Future production costs

     (2,087,979

Future development costs

     (556,893

Future income tax expense

     (809,594
  

 

 

 

Future net cash flows

     2,779,912  

Discount at 10% for estimated timing of cash flows

     (1,397,846
  

 

 

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

     1,382,066  
  

 

 

 

 

     RMB  

The Group

  

At December 31, 2017

  

Future cash inflows

     5,287,272  

Future production costs

     (1,909,890

Future development costs

     (571,125

Future income tax expense

     (594,085
  

 

 

 

Future net cash flows

     2,212,172  

Discount at 10% for estimated timing of cash flows

     (1,187,646
  

 

 

 

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows

     1,024,526  
  

 

 

 

 

F-78


Table of Contents

PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

AND PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED) — (Continued)

(All amounts in millions, except for the per share data and otherwise stated)

 

At December 31, 2019, RMB 1,278,180 (December 31, 2018: RMB 1,320,478, December 31, 2017: RMB 979,330) of standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to proved oil and gas reserves located within mainland China and RMB 46,889 (December 31, 2018: RMB 61,588, December 31, 2017: RMB 45,196) of standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to proved oil and gas reserves located overseas.

Share of standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows of associates and joint ventures:

 

December 31, 2019

     20,356  

December 31, 2018

     24,805  

December 31, 2017

     17,345  

Changes in Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows

Changes in the standardized measure of discounted net cash flows for the Group for each of the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2019     2018     2017  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

The Group

      

Beginning of the year

     1,382,066       1,024,526       756,811  

Sales and transfers of oil and gas produced, net of production costs

     (303,222     (308,217     (232,387

Net changes in prices and production costs and other

     (87,046     510,325       367,132  

Extensions, discoveries and improved recovery

     134,631       129,824       77,249  

Development costs incurred

     53,450       39,725       38,613  

Revisions of previous quantity estimates

     (17,380     10,018       14,555  

Accretion of discount

     149,693       103,225       76,860  

Net change in income taxes

     12,877       (127,360     (74,307
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of the year

     1,325,069       1,382,066       1,024,526  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-79