Japan's Nippon Oil Corp. and Nippon Mining Holdings Inc.

Osaka, Sept. 30 (Jiji Press)--Sanyo Electric Co. and Nippon Oil Corp. said Tuesday they have started talks to set up a joint venture to make and sell thin-film solar cells, demand of which is expected to grow. If an agreement is reached, the two companies may launch the new firm in April 2009.

Tokyo, Aug. 26 (Jiji Press)--Nippon Yusen K.K. and Nippon Oil Corp. said Tuesday they will jointly conduct an experiment to use solar power generation to replace some of the electricity needed to move large cargo vessels.

Tokyo, Aug. 4 (Jiji Press)--Japan's four major oil refiners faced tougher business conditions in April-June due to deteriorating profitability in mainstay oil products operations. Idemitsu Kosan Co. swung to a net loss. Nippon Oil Corp. , Nippon Mining Holdings Inc. and Cosmo Oil Co.

Tokyo, July 31 (Jiji Press)--Nippon Oil Corp. said Thursday that it has revised up its group net profit estimate for fiscal 2008 to 95 billion yen from 57 billion yen thanks to surging crude oil prices.