Nippon Oil Opens Pilot Gas Station in Beijing With Chinese Company

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Jan. 16–BEIJING — Japan’s largest oil refiner Nippon Oil Corp. said it opened Monday a pilot gas station in Beijing together with China’s state-run China National Petroleum Corp.

The establishment of the pilot station, located in the northern part of the Chinese capital, marks the first time Nippon Oil has entered the field of gas station business overseas.

The Japanese company said it plans to consider whether it will pursue the business in China after evaluating the situation at the pilot station for about a year.

The Chinese company has about 17,000 gas stations nationwide.

While its gas stations are basically only for refueling vehicles, the new pilot station is equipped with car-washing facilities and can deal with minor car problems, according to Nippon Oil.

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