Sinopec Unveils Its Initiatives in Biodiversity Conservation at Global Conference
In a remarkable move towards sustainability, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, widely known as Sinopec, unveiled its first Global Biodiversity Conservation Report during the closing ceremony of the China Pavilion at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, Armenia on October 29, 2026. This landmark report outlines the comprehensive strategies employed by Sinopec to seamlessly integrate biodiversity conservation within its corporate governance, industrial operations, and expansive international projects.
Highlighting Sinopec’s commitment, Zhong Ren, a director within the company, addressed the audience emphasizing the balance required between energy development and environmental stewardship. He reiterated that the biodiversity initiatives undertaken by Sinopec are crucial for supporting international energy cooperation while minimizing the ecological footprint of their operations. The report was also presented by representatives from Sinopec's Brand Department, who expounded on the framework of biodiversity management and the impressive conservation achievements attained by the corporation thus far.
At the core of Sinopec's strategy is the incorporation of biodiversity considerations into their health, safety, and environment management system. This allows for the systematic application of conservation principles through every phase of operations—ranging from project planning and construction to operational phases and decommissioning. The report provides insights into how Sinopec aims to avoid ecologically sensitive regions and enhance the restoration of habitats that have been adversely affected by industrial activities. Remarkably, by the end of 2025, activities involving the withdrawal of 992 oil wells, 112 gas wells, and 181 water wells, alongside the cessation of operations for various production and storage facilities, marked significant strides in its environmental management practices.
Sinopec's commitment to protecting wildlife and restoring ecosystems is underscored by several notable projects. In Hubei Province, the initiative led to the closure of 11 riverside oil depots and 17 terminals along the Yangtze River. One of the transformed sites, the Wangjiahe oil depot terminal, which operated for an impressive 63 years, is now dedicated to conservation education and serves as a wildlife observation center for the endangered Yangtze finless porpoise. Furthermore, at the Zhenhai refining complex in Zhejiang Province, a once-limited egret habitat has impressively expanded from 2,200 to 15,000 square meters, currently supporting around 4,000 birds, while also documenting their migratory patterns through industrial areas. Notably, at the Niukouyu Wetland located in Beijing, what was once an industrial wastewater treatment facility has been responsibly converted into a flourishing habitat for nearly 160 species of wild birds.
In its relentless pursuit of sustainability, Sinopec is also harnessing innovative technologies aimed at diminishing their environmental impact. This includes the initiation of China's first million-tonne-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) demonstration project, as well as an industrial facility capable of producing 60,000 metric tons per year of fully biodegradable PBST materials, a significant step towards combating plastic pollution within agricultural applications.
Sinopec's conservation programs extend globally, as highlighted in their report showcasing various international efforts. These include creating wildlife migration corridors neighboring drilling operations in Uganda's Murchison Falls National Park, designed to minimize disturbances to elephants and lions, and the restoration of 2.4 million square meters of rainforest biodiversity in Ecuador. Along the Atlantic coast of Angola, there has been a commitment to planting over 7,000 mangroves to aid coastal ecosystem restoration. An additional long-term marine turtle management initiative in Australia involves the utilization of acoustic tagging and satellite tracking for monitoring 47 green sea turtles, providing essential data to mitigate disruptions caused by maritime operations.
Moving forward, Sinopec pledges to enhance international collaborations and fortify biodiversity conservation efforts across its worldwide operational frameworks. As one of the largest integrated energy and chemical companies in China, Sinopec remains determined in pursuing greener practices while retaining operational efficiency. To discover more about Sinopec and its ongoing efforts in environmental stewardship, visit their official website.