Company Announcements

CONTENTS

 

2	Company Profile
3	Principal Financial Data and Indicators
6	Changes in Share Capital and Shareholdings  of Principal Shareholders
8	Chairman's Address
11	Business Review and Prospects
19	Management's Discussion and Analysis
31	Significant Events
40	Connected Transactions
43	Corporate Governance
50	Report of the Board of Directors
58	Report of the Board of Supervisors
60	Directors, Supervisors,  Senior Management and Employees
76	Principal Wholly-owned and  Controlled Subsidiaries
77	Financial Statements
211	Corporate Information
212	Documents for Inspection

 

This annual report includes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including but not limited to projections, targets, reserve and other estimates and business plans) are forward-looking statements. The Company's actual results or developments may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties. The Company makes the forward-looking statements referred to herein as at 27 March 2020 and unless required by regulatory authorities, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements.

COMPANY PROFILE

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT OF SINOPEC CORP. WARRANT THAT THERE ARE NO FALSE REPRESENTATIONS, MISLEADING STATEMENTS OR MATERIAL OMISSIONS IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT, AND JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AUTHENTICITY, ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT. THERE IS NO OCCUPANCY OF NON-OPERATING FUNDS BY THE CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDERS OF SINOPEC CORP. ALL THE DIRECTORS OF SINOPEC CORP. ATTENDED THE 12TH MEETING OF THE SEVENTH SESSION OF THE BOARD. MR. ZHANG YUZHUO, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, MR. MA YONGSHENG, PRESIDENT, MS. SHOU DONGHUA, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND HEAD OF THE FINACIAL DEPARTMENT OF SINOPEC CORP. WARRANT THE AUTHENTICITY AND COMPLETENESS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF SINOPEC CORP. HAS REVIEWED THE ANNUAL REPORT OF SINOPEC CORP. FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019.

 

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019 OF THE COMPANY PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRC ACCOUNTING STANDARDS FOR BUSINESS ENTERPRISES (CASs) AND INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS (IFRS) HAVE BEEN AUDITED BY PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS ZHONG TIAN LLP AND PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS RESPECTIVELY. BOTH FIRMS HAVE ISSUED STANDARD UNQUALIFIED AUDITOR'S REPORT.

 

AS APPROVED AT THE 12TH MEETING OF THE SEVENTH SESSION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SINOPEC CORP., THE BOARD PROPOSED A FINAL CASH DIVIDEND OF RMB 0.19 (TAX INCLUSIVE) PER SHARE FOR 2019, COMBINING WITH THE INTERIM CASH DIVIDEND OF RMB 0.12 (TAX INCLUSIVE) PER SHARE, THE TOTAL CASH DIVIDEND FOR 2019 WILL BE RMB 0.31 (TAX INCLUSIVE) PER SHARE. THE DIVIDEND PROPOSAL IS SUBJECT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS' APPROVAL AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR THE YEAR 2019.

 

COMPANY PROFILE

Sinopec Corp. is one of the largest integrated energy and chemical companies in China. Its principal operations include the exploration and production, pipeline transportation and sale of petroleum and natural gas; the production, sale, storage and transportation of refinery products, petrochemical products, coal chemical products, synthetic fibre, and other chemical products; the import and export, including an import and export agency business, of petroleum, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemical and chemical products, and other commodities and technologies; and research, development and application of technologies and information.

 

DEFINITIONS:

In this report, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meaning as set out below:

Sinopec Corp.: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation;

Company: Sinopec Corp. and its subsidiaries;

China Petrochemical Corporation: The controlling shareholder of Sinopec Corp., China Petrochemical Corporation;

Sinopec Group: China Petrochemical Corporation and its subsidiaries;

NDRC: China National Development and Reform Commission

RMC: Oil and Natural Gas Reserves Management Committee of the Company;

CSRC: China Securities Regulatory Commission.

Hong Kong Stock Exchange: The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

Hong Kong Listing Rules: Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited

New Lease Standard: IFRS 16, 'Leases'; No. 21 Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises- Leases which was revised and released by the Ministry of Finance in 2018.

 

CONVERSION:

For domestic production of crude oil, 1 tonne = 7.1 barrels;

For overseas production of crude oil: 1 tonne = 7.21 barrels;

For production of natural gas, 1 cubic meter = 35.31 cubic feet;

Refinery throughput is converted at 1 tonne = 7.35 barrels.

 

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL DATA AND INDICATORS

 

1    FINANCIAL DATA AND INDICATORS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CASs

 

(1)  Principal financial data

 

	For the year ended 31 December
	2019	2018	Change	2017
Items	RMB million	RMB million	%	RMB million
Operating income	2,966,193	2,891,179	2.6	2,360,193
Operating profit	90,025	101,474	(11.3)	86,965
Profit before taxation	90,016	100,502	(10.4)	86,573
Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company	57,591	63,089	(8.7)	51,119
Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company excluding  extraordinary gains and losses	54,271	59,630	(9.0)	45,582
Net cash flow from operating activities	153,420	175,868	(12.8)	190,935

 

	For the year of 2019
	First	Second	Third	Fourth
	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Quarter	Total
Items	RMB million	RMB million	RMB million	RMB million	RMB million
Operating income	717,579	781,417	734,309	732,888	2,966,193
Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company	14,763	16,575	11,943	14,310	57,591
Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company  excluding extraordinary gains and losses	14,370	16,081	11,095	12,725	54,271
Net cash flow from operating activities	(14,609)	47,527	48,480	72,022	153,420

 

	As of 31 December
	2019	2018	Change	2017
Items	RMB million	RMB million	%	RMB million
Total assets	1,755,071	1,592,308	10.2	1,595,504
Total liabilities	878,166	734,649	19.5	741,434
Total equity attributable to equity shareholders of the Company	739,169	718,355	2.9	727,244
Total number of shares (1,000 shares)	121,071,210	121,071,210	-	121,071,210

 

(2)  Principal financial indicators

 

	For the year ended 31 December
	2019	2018	Change	2017
Items	RMB	RMB	%	RMB
Basic earnings per share	0.476	0.521	(8.7)	0.422
Diluted earnings per share	0.476	0.521	(8.7)	0.422
Basic earnings per share (excluding extraordinary gains and losses)	0.448	0.493	(9.1)	0.376
Weighted average return on net assets (%)	7.90	8.67	(0.77)	7.14
			percentage
			points
Weighted average return (excluding extraordinary gains and losses)  on net assets (%)	7.45	8.20	(0.75)	6.37
			percentage
			points
Net cash flow from operating activities per share	1.267	1.453	(12.8)	1.577

 

	As of 31 December
	2019	2018	Change	2017
Items	RMB	RMB	%	RMB
Net assets attributable to equity shareholders of the Company per share	6.105	5.933	2.9	6.007
Liabilities to assets ratio (%)	50.04	46.14	3.90	46.47
			percentage
			points

 

(3)  Extraordinary items and corresponding amounts

 

	For the year ended 31 December (Income)/expenses
	2019	2018	2017
Items	RMB million	RMB million	RMB million
Net loss on disposal of non-current assets	1,318	742	1,518
Donations	209	180	152
Government grants	(6,857)	(7,482)	(4,783)
Gain on holding and disposal of various investments	(410)	(1,023)	(148)
Gain on remeasurement of interests in Shanghai SECCO	-	-	(3,941)
Other non-operating expenses, net	729	1,613	690
Subtotal	(5,011)	(5,970)	(6,512)
Tax effect	1,597	2,312	976
Total	(3,414)	(3,658)	(5,536)
Attributable to: Equity shareholders of the Company	(3,320)	(3,459)	(5,537)
Minority interests	(94)	(199)	1

 

(4)  Items measured by fair values

 

Unit: RMB million

 

				Influence
	Beginning	End		on the profit
Items	of the year	of the year	Changes	of the year
Other equity instruments	1,450	1,521	71	492
Derivative financial instruments	1,584	48	(1,536)	(4,384)
Cash flow hedging	(7,268)	(1,940)	5,328	(2,333)
Financial assets held for trading	25,732	3,319	(22,413)	215
Total	21,498	2,948	(18,550)	(6,010)

 

(5)  Significant changes of items in the financial statements

The table below sets forth reasons for those changes where the fluctuation was more than 30% during the reporting period:

 

	As of 31 December		Increase/(decrease)
	2019	2018	Amount	Percentage
Items	RMB million	RMB million	RMB million	(%)	Reasons for change
Financial assets held for trading	3,319	25,732	(22,413)	(87.1)	Structured deposit withdrawal at maturity of RMB 22.8 billion
Bills receivable	-	7,886	(7,886)	(100.0)	According to the accounting standard, bills receivable held by the  Company at the end of last year are presented in receivables financing
Long-term deferred expenses	8,930	15,659	(6,729)	(43.0)
Financial expenses	9,967	(1,001)	10,968	(1,095.7)	The impact of New Lease Standard
Other cash paid relating to  financing activities	(17,187)	(436)	(16,751)	3,842.0
Short-term loans	31,196	44,692	(13,496)	(30.2)	Short-term loans repayment at maturity
Non-current liabilities due  within one year	69,490	17,450	52,040	298.2	Reclassification of items as some of the long-term loans  and debentures are about to due
Long-term loans	39,625	61,576	(21,951)	(35.6)
Debentures payable	19,157	31,951	(12,794)	(40.0)
Impairment losses	(1,789)	(11,605)	9,816	(84.6)	Decrease of impairment losses in current year
Cash received from disposal of  investments	35,996	56,546	(20,550)	(36.3)	Decrease of structured deposit
Net cash received from disposal of  fixed assets, intangible assets and  other long-term assets	703	9,666	(8,963)	(92.7)	Relocation compensation entitled by subsidiaries last year not occurred  in current year
Cash paid for acquisition of fixed  assets, intangible assets and other  long-term assets	(141,142)	(103,014)	(38,128)	37.0	Increase of capital expenditure in natural gas pipelines and product  structure adjustment project
Cash paid for acquisition of  investments	(16,334)	(39,666)	23,332	(58.8)	Decrease of structured deposit
Cash paid for dividends, profits  distribution or interest	(59,523)	(87,483)	27,960	(32.0)	Decrease of dividend declared

 

2    FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH IFRS

 

Unit: RMB million

 

	For the year ended 31 December
Items	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
Turnover and other operating revenues	2,966,193	2,891,179	2,360,193	1,930,911	2,020,375
Operating profit	86,198	82,264	71,470	77,193	56,822
Profit before taxation	89,927	99,110	86,697	80,151	56,411
Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company	57,465	61,618	51,244	46,672	32,512
Basic earnings per share (RMB)	0.475	0.509	0.423	0.385	0.269
Diluted earnings per share (RMB)	0.475	0.509	0.423	0.385	0.269
Return on capital employed (%)	8.99	9.25	8.26	7.30	5.23
Return on net assets (%)	7.79	8.59	7.06	6.56	4.81
Net cash generated from operating activities per share (RMB)	1.267	1.453	1.577	1.772	1.371

 

Unit: RMB million

 

	As of 31 December
Items	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
Non-current assets	1,309,215	1,088,188	1,066,455	1,086,348	1,113,611
Net current liabilities	130,518	60,978	50,397	73,282	129,175
Non-current liabilities	302,862	170,675	163,168	181,831	196,275
Non-controlling interests	137,685	139,251	126,770	120,241	111,964
Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company	738,150	717,284	726,120	710,994	676,197
Net assets per share (RMB)	6.097	5.924	5.997	5.873	5.585
Adjusted net assets per share (RMB)	5.947	5.741	5.868	5.808	5.517

 

3    MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PREPARED UNDER CASs AND IFRS PLEASE REFER TO PAGE 204 OF THE REPORT.

 

CHANGES IN SHARE CAPITAL AND SHAREHOLDINGS OF PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

 

1    CHANGES IN THE SHARE CAPITAL

There is no change in the number and nature of shares of Sinopec Corp. during the reporting period

 

2    NUMBER OF SHAREHOLDERS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDINGS

As of 31 December 2019, the total number of shareholders of Sinopec Corp. was 478,617 including 472,818 holders of A shares and 5,799 holders of H shares. As of 29 February 2020, the total number of shareholders of Sinopec Corp. was 503,142. Sinopec Corp. has complied with requirement for minimum public float under the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

 

(1)  Shareholdings of top ten shareholders

The shareholdings of top ten shareholders as of 31 December 2019 are listed as below:

 

Name of shareholders	Nature of Shareholders	Percentage of shareholdings %	Total number of shares held	Changes of shareholding1	Number of shares subject to pledges or lock-up
China Petrochemical Corporation	State-owned Share	68.31	82,709,227,393	0	0
HKSCC Nominees Limited2	H Share	20.97	25,387,409,005	(3,251,433)	Unknown
中國證券金融股份有限公司	A Share	2.16	2,609,312,057	0	0
國新投資有限公司	A Share	1.03	1,252,427,354	(750,400)	0
北京誠通金控投資有限公司	A Share	0.86	1,038,859,102	91,254,848	0
香港中央結算有限公司	A Share	0.47	571,844,320	(449,937,840)	0
中央匯金資產管理有限責任公司	A Share	0.27	322,037,900	0	0
中國人壽保險股份有限公司－分紅－個人分紅－005L－FH002滬	A Share	0.17	209,777,480	27,819,820	0
中國人壽保險股份有限公司－傳統－普通保險產品－005L－CT001滬	A Share	0.14	171,333,093	21,596,954	0
匯添富基金管理股份有限公司－社保基金1103組合	A Share	0.09	110,000,000	110,000,000	0

 

Note 1:    As compared with the number of shares held as of 31 December 2018.

 

Note 2:    Sinopec Century Bright Capital Investment Limited, an overseas wholly-owned subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation, held 553,150,000 H shares, accounting for 0.46% of the total issued share capital of Sinopec Corp. Those shareholdings are included in the total number of the shares held by HKSCC Nominees Limited.

 

Statement on the connected relationship or acting in concert among the above-mentioned shareholders:

 

Apart from 中國人壽保險股份有限公司－分紅－個人分紅－005L－FH002滬and 中國人壽保險股份有限公司－傳統－普通保險產品－005L－CT001滬 which were both managed by 中國人壽保險股份有限公司, Sinopec Corp. is not aware of any connected relationship or acting in concert among or between the above-mentioned shareholders.

 

(2)  Information disclosed by the shareholders of H shares in accordance with the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) as of 31 December 2019

 

Name of shareholders	Status of shareholders	Number of shares interested	% of Sinopec Corp.'s issued voting shares (H Share)
BlackRock, Inc.	Interest of corporation controlled by	2,019,237,567 (L)	7.91 (L)
	the substantial shareholder	1,128,000 (S)	0.00 (S)
Citigroup Inc.	Interest of corporation controlled by	75,490,996 (L)	0.30 (L)
	the substantial shareholder	51,630,422 (S)	0.20 (S)
	Approved lending agent	2,547,370,819 (L)	9.98 (L)
GIC Private Limited	Investment manager	1,532,082,422 (L)	6.01 (L)

 

(L):  Long position, (S): Short position

 

3    ISSUANCE AND LISTING OF SECURITIES

 

(1)  Issuance of securities during the reporting period

Not Applicable.

 

(2)  Existing employee shares

Not Applicable.

 

4    CHANGES IN THE CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDERS AND THE DE FACTO CONTROLLER

There was no change in the controlling shareholder and the de facto controller of Sinopec Corp. during the reporting period.

 

(1)  Controlling shareholder

The controlling shareholder of Sinopec Corp. is China Petrochemical Corporation. Established in July 1998, China Petrochemical Corporation is a state-authorised investment organisation and a state-owned enterprise. The legal representative is Mr. Zhang Yuzhuo. Through re-organization in 2000, China Petrochemical Corporation injected its principal petroleum and petrochemical businesses into Sinopec Corp. and retained certain petrochemical facilities. It provides well-drilling services, well-logging services, downhole operation services, services in connection with manufacturing and maintenance of production equipment, engineering construction, and utility services including water and power and social services.

 

      Shares of other listed companies directly held by China Petrochemical Corporation

 

	Number of	Shareholding
Name of Company	Shares Held	Percentage
Sinopec Engineering (Group)  Co. Ltd	2,907,856,000	65.67%
Sinopec Oilfield Service  Corporation	10,727,896,364	56.51%
Sinopec Oilfield Equipment  Corporation	351,351,000	58.74%
China Merchants Energy  Shipping Co., Ltd	912,886,426	15.05%

 

Note:  China Petrochemical Corporation holds 2,595,786,987 H shares of Sinopec Oilfield Service Corporation (the "SSC") through Sinopec Century Bright Capital Investment Ltd., a wholly-owned overseas subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation, accounting for 13.67% of the total share capital of SSC. Such shareholdings are excluded from the total shares of SSC directly held by China Petrochemical Corporation indicated above.

 

(2)  Other than HKSCC Nominees Limited, there was no other legal person shareholder holding 10% or more of the total issued share capital of Sinopec Corp.

 

(3)  Basic information of the de facto controller

China Petrochemical Corporation is the de facto controller of Sinopec Corp.

 

(4)  Diagram of the equity and controlling relationship between Sinopec Corp. and its de facto controller

 

 

 

*:      Inclusive of 553,150,000 H shares held by Sinopec Century Bright Capital Investment Ltd. (overseas wholly-owned subsidiary of China Petrochemical Corporation) through HKSCC Nominees Limited.

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS

 

Dear Shareholders and Friends:

 

First, I would like to extend my sincere thanks for the trust of our shareholders and support of our directors, and for appointing me as the Chairman of the Company. On behalf of the Board of Directors, management and our entire staff, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our shareholders and the community for your interest and support.

 

In 2019, global economy slowdown while China's economy remained overall stable. With international oil prices fluctuating within a wide range and new production capacity for refinery and petrochemicals being excessively released, market competition increased dramatically. As a result, the internal and external risks and challenges faced by the Company have increased significantly. In such a complicated and difficult market, with focus on both short and long-term goals in mind, the Board of Directors adhered to the guideline of pursuing progress while maintaining stability. Furthermore, it concentrated on modernizing the company's corporate governance systems and capabilities, and deepening reforms to sustain continuous growth and development. Under the management's leadership, our employees demonstrated dedication and a conscientious and responsible work spirit, and implemented all practices with discipline and in a professional manner. Significantly, the Company achieved better than expected operating results and made new progress in all fronts as we continuously deepened reform, exercised effective risk management, stabilised growth, and adjusted the operating structure while guaranteeing safety.

 

Progress achieved and stability ensured. In accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, our turnover and other operating revenues grew by 2.6% year-on-year to RMB 2.97 trillion while operating profit grew by 4.8% year-on-year to RMB 86.2 billion, and profit attributable to shareholders of the Company amounted to RMB 57.5 billion. The Company remained in a solid financial position with stable cash flow. In view of the Company's funding requirements, return on equity, profitability and cash flow for future development, the Board of Directors recommended the payment of a final dividend of RMB 0.19 per share. Taking into account the interim dividend of RMB 0.12 per share, the total dividend for the year was RMB 0.31 per share, with a dividend payout ratio of 65.3%.

 

Corporate governance continuously improved. The Board of Directors enhanced its scientific approach to decision-making and optimised development strategies and implementation plans. The independent directors performed their duties and functions professionally, making great contributions to our sustainable development. The Company also revised and improved its Articles of Association and other governing documents, as well as implemented effective risk control measures. Additionally, the Company launched the Integrity Compliance Management Manual in its continued effort to further strengthen its compliance management system. Further, the Company deepened management system reforms and adjusted internal departments in an orderly manner so as to continuously improve our professional management. We attached great importance to shareholder returns, enhanced communications with stakeholders, and protected investors' interests in an effort to consistently increase corporate transparency. Meanwhile, we strived to transform the advantage of Party building into our competitive business advantage through effective integration of these two efforts. The Company was awarded "Best Corporate Governance for a Publicly Listed Company" by the Golden Bauhinia Awards.

 

Quality improved in stable operation. We maintained safe and stable production operations, continued to deepen supply-side structural reforms and sped up the construction of key projects to ensure stable growth and improve the quality of the industry chain. As for the upstream business, greater efforts were made in oil and gas exploration, achieving satisfactory results in increasing reserves, stabilizing oil production, increasing gas output, and reducing costs. The domestic oil and gas reserve replacement ratio reached 138.7%, and market share of natural gas further increased. The refining and marketing businesses navigated through fierce market competition with product portfolio better adapted to market demand. Simultaneously, production and sales volume increased, and the pace of construction of comprehensive services and the application of artificial intelligence at service stations was accelerated. Underpinned by rapid growth of the overall volume and strengthening structural adjustment of the chemicals business, development of high value-added synthetic materials achieved remarkable progress. In addition, we actively nurtured new businesses and operations and provided new impetus for transformation and upgrading. Furthermore, we implemented innovation-driven development strategies, built joint innovation platforms, and achieved breakthroughs in major technologies and a series of R&D projects. The evaluation of the comprehensive advantages of our patents also continued to be at the forefront of our domestic enterprises' efforts.

 

Corporate social responsibilities effectively fulfilled. We took proactive measures to combat climate change and implement green and low-carbon development strategies, as well as strived to develop clean energy. Green enterprise and energy efficiency upgrading campaigns were undertaken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the ecological environment and biodiversity. We also took great care in implementing our HSSE management system that ensures safe production and occupational health, and protects the physical and mental health of all employees. We made greater efforts to implement targeted poverty alleviation and achieved fruitful results, including poverty alleviation programs focused on industry, education and consumption. To benefit as many people as possible, we actively and consistently participated in various social welfare initiatives. In addition, we honored the traditional and cultural characteristics of the communities where we operate, and regularly promoted economic development and environmental protection in the communities around our projects. In so doing, we fully demonstrated our commitment to being a responsible global corporate citizen, which received high recognition at home and abroad.

 

The hard-won achievements in 2019 were attributed to the arduous efforts and altruistic dedication of the Company's Board of Directors, the Board of Supervisors, the management and the entire staff. Due to reassignment and retirement, Mr. Dai Houliang, Mr. Li Yunpeng, and Mr. Liu Zhongyun no longer hold positions in the Company. During their tenure, they worked diligently, fulfilled their duties and contributed greatly to the Company. In particular, Mr. Dai Houliang, former Chairman of the Board, made outstanding contributions and played an essential role in improving corporate governance, advancing reforms and innovation, and achieving sustainable growth. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of them!

 

At the beginning of 2020, the sudden outbreak of coronavirus struck China and impacted the global economy. Confronted with the outbreak, President Xi Jinping attached great importance to deploying relief actions by giving overall instructions directly. In response to the outbreak, the Company acted promptly and proactively. While maintaining stable production and operation, the Company gave full play to its industrial advantages, exerted full force to produce raw materials for medical and health supplies, and cooperated with related enterprises to produce medical supplies in urgent need, including masks and protective suits for affected areas. Moreover, with the advantages of our sales network, the Company spared no effort to guarantee the market supply of oil and gas, innovate service models, and enable the public to purchase articles for daily use conveniently, thereby making our contribution to win the battle against the virus.

 

Looking forward, the global economy will face more instability and uncertainty brought by the outbreak. Although the virus may temporarily impact the Chinese economy, we firmly believe that China's solid economic fundamentals will remain unchanged and the country's potential and momentum will remain strong. A combination of preferential policies and measures oriented to enterprises set out by the Chinese government is supporting the rapid recovery of the economy while reducing the impact brought by the virus. We believe that as the control and prevention of outbreak continues to improve domestically, the domestic demand for petroleum and petrochemical products that was suppressed and frozen will rebound quickly.

 

Challenges always arise with opportunities. The Company will continue to adhere to the overall strategy of "making progress while maintaining stability," and to that end will implement new development philosophies and energy security strategies, as well as further strengthen corporate governance. The Company will also continue to focus on supply-side structural reform. Exercising comprehensive and strict governance over the Party, coupled with the strategy of the Talent Empowering Enterprise Scheme, the Company will continue to leverage its advantages of integration, aiming to realize a development pattern with energy resources as the backbone, clean energy and synthetic materials as two development wings, and new energy, new economies, and new fields as important growth points.

 

The Company will continue to deepen the reform of its systems and mechanisms, further improve its corporate governance system and enhance governance capabilities. With headquarters acting as the center of restructuring, the Company will further advance reforms of its management system and market-oriented operation mechanism. It will strengthen construction of its systems, improve management, and better mobilize initiatives in every aspect so as to constantly increase the ability to create synergies, raise efficiency and mitigate risks.

 

The Company will focus on promoting structural adjustment and continuously improving its core competence. In the upstream business, the Company will implement the action plan of vigorously enhancing oil and gas exploration and development, focusing on high-quality exploration and profit-driven production, and further consolidating the oil and gas resource base. In the meantime, the Company will adopt an integrated approach to the clean and efficient use of new energy, renewable energy and coal resources, and promote diversification of the energy mix. As for the refining and marketing business, the Company will closely monitor market demand, optimize the system, promote construction of advanced production capacity, and fully develop the potential of the marketing network and improve the quality of operations. In terms of the chemicals business, the Company will accelerate the supply of high-end synthetic materials, develop a more competitive and advantageous basic chemical product chain and improve marketing services and efficiency, by ways of focusing on technological progress and extending the production chain, etc.Additionally, the Company will accelerate key research on core technologies, enhance the capability of proprietary innovation, speed up low-carbon transformation, and improve the efficiency of energy conversion to reduce carbon emissions, which we expect will give rise to a core competency in green development. In 2020, the planned capital expenditure of the Company amounts to RMB 143.4 billion.

 

Only with great courage, ambition and momentum can a company strive and thrive. Sinopec Corp. is endowed with a complete industrial chain, and its integrated competitive advantages are clear, especially in the Company's strong market presence, branding, capital resources, and human talent. I firmly believe that with the concerted efforts of our Board of Directors, management and entire staff, as well as support from our shareholders and the community, Sinopec Corp. will surely develop in distinct ways that are more efficient and of higher quality, which in turn will create greater value for shareholders and the community.

Zhang Yuzhuo

Chairman

 

Beijing, China

27 March 2020

 

BUSINESS REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

 

BUSINESS REVIEW

In 2019, the global economy slowed down while China maintained an overall stable with its gross domestic product (GDP) up by 6.1%. International oil prices fluctuated in a wide range while domestic market saw rapid growth demand for natural gas and fierce competition in oil products due to abundant supply, and chemicals prices decreased. The Company actively addressed market changes by pursuing innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development. Through implementing specialised development, market-oriented operation, internalisation and overall coordination, we pushed forward all aspects of our work, and achieved solid operating results.

 

 

 

1    MARKET REVIEW

 

(1)  Crude Oil & Natural Gas Market

In 2019, international oil prices fluctuated with a wide range. The spot price of Platt's Brent for the year averaged USD 64.21 per barrel, down by 10.0%. Along with the changes in China's energy mix, domestic demand for natural gas remained strong. Based on statistics released by the NDRC, domestic apparent consumption of natural gas reached 306.7 billion cubic meters, up by 9.4% year on year.

 

(2)  Refined Oil Products Market

In 2019, domestic demand for refined oil products maintained its growth while market supply was in surplus. According to statistics released by the NDRC, the apparent consumption of refined oil products (including gasoline, diesel and kerosene) was 330 million tonnes, up by 1.4% from the previous year, with gasoline up by 2.3%, kerosene up by 6.2% and diesel down by 0.5%. There were 21 price adjustments for domestic refined oil products throughout the year with 15 increases and 6 decreases.

 

(3)  Chemical Products Market

Domestic demand for chemicals kept stable growth in 2019. Based on our statistics, domestic consumption of ethylene equivalent was 52.71 million tonnes, up by 11.8% from the previous year, and the apparent consumption of synthetic resin, synthetic fibre and synthetic rubber rose by 10.1%, 12.5% and 3.6%, respectively. Average prices of domestic chemical products decreased by 12.6% year on year, and the average margin of chemical products narrowed.

 

2    PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS REVIEW

 

(1)  Exploration and Production

In 2019, we implemented the action plan of redoubling efforts in oil and gas exploration and production, actively pressed ahead with high-efficiency exploration and profit-oriented development, accelerated the systematic integration of natural gas production, supply, storage and marketing, continuously reduced cost and expenditure on all fronts, and achieved tangible results in maintaining oil production, increasing gas output and cutting cost. We reinforced venture exploration and preliminary exploration in new areas which led to new discoveries in Tarim, Sichuan and Erdos basins. The Company's newly added proved reserves in China reached 587 million barrels of oil equivalent, with domestic reserve replacement ratio at 138.7%. In crude oil development, we proceeded with the capacity building in Shunbei oilfield, strengthened profitable production capacity of hard-to-recover reserves in mature fields, intensified EOR technology breakthrough and application, and ensured steady production. In natural gas development, we constantly pushed forward capacity building in Fuling, Weirong, and West Sichuan gas fields, expanded the market and sales, and promoted coordinated development along the value chain. The Company's production of oil and gas reached 458.92 million barrels of oil equivalent, with domestic crude production reaching 249.43 million barrels and natural gas production totaling 1,047.78 billion cubic feet, up by 7.2% year on year.

 

Summary of Operations for the Exploration and Production Segment

 

				Change from
	2019	2018	2017	2018 to 2019(%)
Oil and gas production (mmboe)	458.92	451.46	448.79	1.7
Crude oil production (mmbbls)	284.22	288.51	293.66	(1.5)
China	249.43	248.93	248.88	0.2
Overseas	34.79	39.58	44.78	(12.1)
Natural gas production (bcf)	1,047.78	977.32	912.50	7.2

 

Summary of Reserves of Crude Oil and Natural Gas

 

	Crude oil reserves (mmbbls)
Items	31 December 19	31 December 18
Proved reserves	1,741	1,666
Proved developed reserves	1,588	1,533
China	1,326	1,244
Consolidated subsidiaries	1,326	1,244
Shengli	982	910
Others	344	334
Overseas	262	289
Consolidated subsidiaries	17	27
Equity accounted entities	245	261
Proved undeveloped reserves	153	134
China	107	96
Consolidated subsidiaries	107	96
Shengli	12	16
Others	95	80
Overseas	46	38
Consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Equity accounted entities	46	38

 

	Natural gas reserves (bcf)
Items	31 December 19	31 December 18
Proved reserves	7,225	6,807
Proved developed reserves	6,035	5,835
China	6,026	5,822
Consolidated subsidiaries	6,026	5,822
Puguang	1,814	1,904
Fuling	1,315	1,149
Others	2,897	2,769
Overseas	9	13
Consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Equity accounted entities	9	13
Proved undeveloped reserves	1,190	972
China	1,190	972
Consolidated subsidiaries	1,190	972
Fuling	65	195
Others	1,125	777

 

Exploration and Production Activities

 

	Wells drilled (as of 31 December)
	2019				2018
	Exploratory		Development		Exploratory		Development
	Productive	Dry	Productive	Dry	Productive	Dry	Productive	Dry
China	350	174	2,098	5	286	131	1,941	6
Consolidated subsidiaries	350	174	2,098	5	286	131	1,941	6
Shengli	195	81	1,168	4	149	71	1,201	5
Others	155	93	930	1	137	60	740	1
Overseas	3	1	99	0	0	0	70	0
Consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Equity accounted entities	3	1	99	0	0	0	70	0
Total	353	175	2,197	5	286	131	2,011	6

 

	Wells drilling (as of 31 December)
	2019				2018
	Gross		Net		Gross		Net
	Exploratory	Development	Exploratory	Development	Exploratory	Development	Exploratory	Development
China	117	177	117	176	69	277	69	277
Consolidated subsidiaries	117	177	117	176	69	277	69	277
Shengli	60	20	60	20	25	72	25	72
Others	57	157	57	156	44	205	44	205
Overseas	0	0	0	0	0	10	0	10
Consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Equity accounted entities	0	0	0	0	0	10	0	10
Total	117	177	117	176	69	287	69	287

 

	Oil productive wells (as of 31 December)
	2019		2018
	Gross	Net	Gross	Net
China	52,112	52,112	51,030	51,030
Consolidated subsidiaries	52,112	52,112	51,030	51,030
Shengli	33,819	33,819	32,805	32,805
Others	18,293	18,293	18,225	18,225
Overseas	7,248	2,855	7,293	3,939
Consolidated subsidiaries	28	14	28	14
Equity accounted entities	7,220	2,841	7,265	3,925
Total	59,360	54,967	58,323	54,969

 

	Natural gas productive wells (as of 31 December)
	2019		2018
Region	Gross	Net	Gross	Net
China	6,420	6,378	5,068	5,028
Consolidated subsidiaries	6,420	6,378	5,068	5,028
Puguang	61	61	58	58
Fuling	482	482	368	368
Others	5,877	5,835	4,642	4,602
Total	6,420	6,378	5,068	5,028

 

Unit: Square kilometers

 

	Area under license (as of 31 December)
	2019	2018
Acreage with exploration licenses	472,017	525,269
China	472,017	525,269
Acreage with development licenses	38,697	36,748
China	33,467	31,643
Overseas	5,230	5,106

 

(2)  Refining

In 2019, with market-oriented approach, we optimised product mix to produce more gasoline and jet fuel, increased production of high value-added products, and lowered diesel-to-gasoline ratio to 1.05. We optimised the production plan for low sulfur fuel oil and reduced cost. We leveraged our advantage in production and sales, and moderately increased export of oil products to keep a relatively high utilization rate. We promoted quality upgrading projects and made structural adjustments, comprehensively optimized production and ensured safety and reliability of the refining facilities. We improved the marketing and distribution systems and realised a growth momentum in high grade lubricants and grease, LPG, asphalt and sulphur. In 2019, the Company processed 249 million tonnes of crude oil, and produced 160 million tonnes of refined oil products, up by 3.4%, with gasoline and kerosene up by 2.6% and 7.8% respectively year on year.

 

Summary of Operations for the Refining Segment                                                                                                                                     Unit: million tonnes

 

				Change from
	2019	2018	2017	2018 to 2019 (%)
Refinery throughput	248.52	244.01	238.50	1.8
Gasoline, diesel and kerosene production	159.99	154.79	150.67	3.4
Gasoline	62.77	61.16	57.03	2.6
Diesel	66.06	64.72	66.76	2.1
Kerosene	31.16	28.91	26.88	7.8
Light chemical feedstock production	39.78	38.52	38.60	3.3
Light product yield (%)	76.38	76.00	75.85	0.38 percentage points
Refinery yield (%)	94.98	94.93	94.88	0.05 percentage points

 

Note: Includes 100% of the production from domestic joint ventures.

 

(3)  Marketing and Distribution

In 2019, confronted with fierce market competition, the Company brought our advantages of integrated production and marketing network into full play, adhered to the guideline of "achieving gains in both sales volume and profits", coordinated allocation of resources, expanded sales and increased profit, and achieved sustained growth in both total sales volume and retail scale. With focus on customer need, we adopted a flexible and targeted marketing strategy, and improved our services. We upgraded our distribution network to further strengthen our existing advantages. We accelerated the construction and operation of CNG stations and explored the development of hydrogen fueling stations. Total sales volume of refined oil products for the year was 255 million tonnes, up by 7.3% year on year, of which domestic sales volume accounted for 184 million tonnes, up by 2.3%. Meanwhile, we strengthened development and marketing of company-owned brands, and promoted the innovation of non-fuel business model and its market-oriented reform, to speed up the development of non-fuel business.

 

Summary of Operations for the Marketing and Distribution Segment

 

				Change from
	2019	2018	2017	2018 to 2019 (%)
Total sales volume of oil products (million tonnes)*	254.95	237.69	231.21	7.3
Total domestic sales volume of oil products (million tonnes)	184.45	180.24	177.76	2.3
Retail sales (million tonnes)	122.54	121.64	121.56	0.7
Direct sales and distribution (million tonnes)	61.91	58.61	56.20	5.6
Annual average throughput per station (tonne/station)	3,992	3,979	3,969	0.3

 

	31 December 2019	31 December 2018	31 December 2017	Change from the end of the previous year to the end of the reporting period (%)
Total number of service stations under the Sinopec brand	30,702	30,661	30,633	0.1
Number of company-operated stations	30,696	30,655	30,627	0.1

 

Note:   The total sales volume of refined oil products includes the amount of refined oil marketing and trading sales volume.

 

(4)  Chemicals

In 2019, the Company followed the development philosophy of "basic plus high-end", sped up advanced capacity building, and optimised business portfolio layout. We persistently fine-tuned chemical feedstock mix to increase the yield and lower cost. We optimised products slate, enhanced integration among production, marketing, R&D and application, vigorously promoted the development and application of new products, and raised the proportion of new and specialty products. We further adjusted facility structures to enhance the dynamic optimisation of facilities and product chain, and improved the utilisation based on market demand. Ethylene production in 2019 reached 12.49 million tonnes, up by 8.5% year on year. The differential ratio of synthetic fiber reached 90%, and the ratio of new and specialty products in synthetic resin reached 65.3%. We also promoted targeted marketing and service to further expand our business, with total chemical sales volume increased by 3.3% to 89.50 million tonnes, realising full sales.

 

Summary of Operations for the Chemicals Segment                                                                                                                                 Unit: thousand tonnes

 

				Change from
	2019	2018	2017	2018 to 2019 (%)
Ethylene	12,493	11,512	11,610	8.5
Synthetic resin	17,244	15,923	15,938	8.3
Synthetic rubber	1,047	896	848	16.9
Synthetic fiber monomer and polymer	10,029	9,343	9,439	7.3
Synthetic fiber	1,289	1,218	1,220	5.8

 

Note: Includes 100% of the production of domestic joint ventures.

 

(5)  Research and Development

In 2019, with the emphasis on innovation-driven strategy, the Company accomplished notable results in deepening reform of R&D mechanism, promoting innovation platforms such as joint R&D centers and incubators, and making breakthrough in key and frontier technologies. In upstream, research in gas enrichment theory and exploration technologies of marine phase medium and large gas fields in Sichuan Basin made headway, leading to breakthrough in gas reserve. Our proprietary rotary steering drilling system was successfully applied in Shengli oilfield. In refining, we developed various formulations for low sulphur fuel oil and passed engine tests and endurance tests. Our high-grade gasoline and diesel engine oil met the latest international standards and realised industrial production and commercialization. In chemicals, the start-up of the second generation high-efficiency and environment-friendly aromatics facilities was successfully started up. The anthraquinone method of producing hydrogen peroxide in fluidised-bed reactor and PPTA technology realised industrialization. In addition, the framework type code of a novel structured zeolite SCM-15 synthesised by us has been approved by the Structure Commission of International Zeolite Association. In 2019, the Company had 6,160 patent applications at home and abroad, among which 4,076 were granted. We also won six second prizes of National Sci-Tech Progress and one second prize of NationalTechnology Invention, and one gold, three silver and three excellent prizes of National Patent Awards.

 

(6)  Health, Safety, Security and Environment

In 2019, the Company constantly promoted and fully implemented the HSSE management system. We enhanced overall health management, and established safeguarding mechanism for occupational, physical and psychological health. We surveyed and rectified safety hazards, took stringent measures to control risks and supervise safety and operations of contractors, and achieved sound results. We upgraded our capacity in all-dimension risk prevention and control as well as emergency response, further enhancing security management. In 2019, we actively practiced green and low-carbon growth strategy, further promoted the green enterprise campaign and ecological conservation, and accomplished all emission reduction targets. Compared with 2018, energy consumption per 10,000 yuan of output was down by 0.4%, industrial fresh water usage was down by 1.1%, COD of discharged water down by 2.1%, and SO2 emissions down by 3.9%. All solid waste was properly treated. For more detailed information, please refer to "Communication on Progress for Sustainable Development 2019 of Sinopec Corp."

 

(7)  Capital Expenditures

In 2019, focusing on quality and profitability of investment, the Company continuously optimised its capital projects, with total capital expenditures of RMB 147.1 billion. Capital expenditure for the exploration and production segment was RMB 61.7 billion, mainly for Shengli and Northwest crude oil development projects, Fuling and Weirong shale gas projects, phase I of Xinqi gas pipeline, phase I of Erdos-Anping-Cangzhou gas pipeline, Qingdao-Nanjing gas pipeline, Wen 23 and Jintan gas storage projects, as well as overseas projects. Capital expenditure for the refining segment was RMB 31.4 billion, mainly for Zhongke Refining and Petrochemical project, Zhenhai, Tianjin, Maoming and Luoyang refining upgrading projects. Capital expenditure for the marketing and distribution segment was RMB 29.6 billion, mainly for construction of service stations, oil products depots, pipelines and non-fuel business. Capital expenditure for the chemicals segment was RMB 22.4 billion, mainly for Zhongke, Zhenhai, Gulei and Hainan projects, ethylene revamping for Sinopec-SK and Sinopec-SABIC projects, phase II of Hainan high-efficiency and environment-friendly aromatics project, Sinopec-SABIC polycarbonate project and Zhongan coal chemical project. Capital expenditure for corporate and others was RMB 2 billion, mainly for R&D facilities and information technology projects.

 

BUSINESS PROSPECTS

 

(1)  Market Outlook

In 2020, despite the increasing instability and uncertainty of the international political and economic situation, and the inevitable impact on China's economy by coronavirus outbreak in the short term, we expect the fundamentals sustaining sound economic growth in China remain unchanged. Domestic demand for energy and chemical products will be relatively weak in the first half, but the accumulated demand is expected to be released rapidly after outbreak. Considering oil-producing countries' abundant supply capacity, global demand growth, inventory levels, and geopolitics, we expect that the international oil prices will fluctuate at a low level.

 

(2)  Operations

In 2020, adhering to the principles of "reform, management, innovation, and development", the Company will focus on optimisation of the entire business value chain, as well as market expansion, risk prevention, and seizing opportunities so as to do our best to reduce the negative impact of the coronavirus outbreak and the slump of crude oil price, and strive to achieve healthy business performance.

 

Due to the outbreak, the adjustment of the Company's production plan for 2020 is currently underway. We will confirm the production plan according to the market trends in the future.

 

Exploration and Production, under the low oil price circumstance, we will optimise projects implementation, enhance high-quality exploration, and reduce cost and expenditure to expand resource base and realize sustainable development. In crude oil development, more efforts will be made in promoting capacity building of Shunbei Oilfield, Tahe Oilfield, and the Oilfield at the western margin of the Junggar Basin, and we will strengthen profit-oriented development of mature fields. In natural gas development, we will accelerate capacity construction of key projects, and promote integration of production, supply, storage and marketing so as to maximize the value of the business chain. Preliminarily, we plan to keep a stable production volume of curde oil and realise a positive growth for nature gas.

 

Refining, under low oil price circumstance, with the coordination of production and sales, domestic and overseas markets, the Company will optimize utilization rate and production scheduling, and promote efficient operation of its refining business chain. We will optimize the allocation of crude oil, coordinate crude oil supply chain, and reduce procurement costs. More efforts will be made in restructuring product slate, increasing products tailoring for market demand and changes. We will accelerate low-sulfur bunker fuel projects and the revamping of storage and transportation facilities to rapidly expand market share.

 

Marketing and Distribution, balancing volume and profit, and leveraging the advantages of integration of production and sales, the Company will continuously improve the quality of its operations. We will vigorously carry out targeted and differentiated marketing to continuously improve our services with focus on customer need. We will accelerate the construction of smart service stations, coordinate the layout of natural gas and hydrogen stations, and consolidate and expand network advantages. More efforts will be made in boosting innovation in non-fuel business models, vigorously developing proprietary brands, creating differentiated competitive advantages, so as to drive rapid growth in non-fuel business.

 

Chemicals, the Company will focus on the "basic + high-end" development concept, speed up advanced capacity building, continuously deepen structural adjustment, and improve our competitiveness and profitability. We will optimize facilities and product chain, and improve utilization rate and production scheduling based on market demand. Efforts will be made in adjusting feedstock slate to improve product yield and reduce cost. We will coordinate production, marketing, research and application, and redouble our efforts in developing new products and increase the production of high value-added products. Meanwhile, we will improve targeted marketing and services, enhance e-commerce platforms, actively explore overseas markets and continuously expand market share.

 

Research and Development, we will continue to implement the innovation-driven development strategy, deepen mechanism reform, accelerate key technology breakthrough, improve innovation capabilities to strive for quality development. In oil and gas exploration and development, we will strive to make technology breakthrough in ultra-deep oil and gas, tight oil and gas, shale oil and gas, etc. In refining, we will accelerate the research of heavy oil processing, oil quality upgrading, and promote the application of technologies such as needle coke. In chemicals, we will continuously improve the package technologies of ethylene and aromatics, strengthen the research and development of photoelectric materials and degradable materials, and accelerate the industrialization of large-tow high-performance carbon fibers. At the same time, we will focus on advancing research on cutting-edge technologies and new areas to achieve future business development through technology innovation.

 

Capital Expenditures, Preliminary capital expenditures for the year 2020 are budgeted at RMB 143.4 billion. We will dynamically optimise capital projects based on future market trends. Preliminarily, RMB 61.1 billion will be invested in exploration and production with focuses on the production capacity building of Shengli and Northwest crude oil development projects, Fuling and Weirong shale gas field, and the construction of natural gas pipelines and storage facilities as well as overseas oil and gas projects. The refining segment will account for RMB 22.4 billion, mainly on the construction and commissioning of the Zhongke project, and structural adjustment projects of Zhenhai, Tianjin, Maoming, Luoyang. RMB 22.0 billion is budgeted for marketing and distribution with emphasis on service stations, depots and storage facilities for refined oil products, pipelines and non-fuel business. The share for chemicals will be RMB 32.3 billion which will be used on the construction of Zhongke, Zhenhai and Gulei projects, ethylene revamping of Sinopec-SK and Sinopec-SABIC projects, Sinopec-SABIC polycarbonate project, Jiujiang aromatics project and Zhong An coal chemical project. The capital expenditure for corporate and others will be RMB 5.6 billion, mainly for R&D facilities and information technology projects.

 

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMPANY'S AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES. PARTS OF THE FOLLOWING FINANCIAL DATA WERE ABSTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PREPARED ACCORDING TO THE IFRS, UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. THE PRICES IN THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION DO NOT INCLUDE VALUE-ADDED TAX.

 

1    CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

In 2019, the Company's turnover and other operating revenues was RMB 2,966.2 billion, increased by 2.6% compared with that of 2018. The operating profit was RMB 86.2 billion, representing a year on year increase of 4.8%.

 

The following table sets forth the main revenue and expenses from the Company's consolidated financial statements:

 

	Year ended 31 December
	2019	2018	Change (%)
	RMB million	RMB million
Turnover and other operating revenues	2,966,193	2,891,179	2.6
Turnover	2,900,488	2,825,613	2.6
Other operating revenues	65,705	65,566	0.2
Operating expenses	(2,879,995)	(2,808,915)	2.5
Purchased crude oil, products and operating supplies and expenses	(2,380,907)	(2,292,983)	3.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(55,313)	(65,642)	(15.7)
Depreciation, depletion and amortisation	(108,812)	(109,967)	(1.1)
Exploration expenses, including dry holes	(10,510)	(10,744)	(2.2)
Personnel expenses	(81,482)	(77,721)	4.8
Taxes other than income tax	(242,535)	(246,498)	(1.6)
Other operating expense, net	(436)	(5,360)	(91.9)
Operating profit	86,198	82,264	4.8
Net finance costs	(9,967)	1,001	-
Investment income and share of profits less losses from associates and joint ventures	13,696	15,845	(13.6)
Profit before taxation	89,927	99,110	(9.3)
Income tax expense	(17,894)	(20,213)	(11.5)
Profit for the year	72,033	78,897	(8.7)
Attributable to:
Shareholders of the Company	57,465	61,618	(6.7)
Non-controlling interests	14,568	17,279	(15.7)

 

(1)  Turnover and other operating revenues

In 2019, the Company's turnover was RMB 2,900.5 billion, representing an increase of 2.6% over 2018. This was mainly attributed to expansion of business scale and trading volume.

 

The following table sets forth the external sales volume, average realised prices and respective rates of change of the Company's major products in 2019 and 2018:

 

	Sales volume (thousand tonnes)			Average realised price (RMB/tonne, RMB/thousand cubic meters
	Year ended 31 December			Year ended 31 December
	2019	2018	Change (%)	2019	2018	Change (%)
Crude oil	6,034	6,595	(8.5)	3,000	3,100	(3.2)
Natural gas (million cubic meters)	27,073	24,197	11.9	1,562	1,400	11.6
Gasoline	92,233	88,057	4.7	7,387	7,870	(6.1)
Diesel	87,083	84,630	2.9	5,811	5,996	(3.1)
Kerosene	27,041	25,787	4.9	4,298	4,562	(5.8)
Basic chemical feedstock	41,022	40,520	1.2	4,578	5,488	(16.6)
Monomer and polymer for synthetic fibre	14,019	11,127	26.0	5,714	6,971	(18.0)
Synthetic resin	16,103	14,433	11.6	7,717	8,634	(10.6)
Synthetic fibre	1,370	1,314	4.3	8,438	9,712	(13.1)
Synthetic rubber	1,280	1,114	14.9	9,583	10,619	(9.8)
Chemical fertiliser	924	794	16.4	2,110	2,096	0.7

 

Most crude oil and a small portion of natural gas produced by the Company were internally used for refining and chemical production, with the remaining sold to external customers. In 2019, the turnover from crude oil, natural gas and other upstream products sold externally amounted to RMB 111.1 billion, an increase of 18.8% over 2018. The change was mainly due to increases in natural gas sales volume and prices as the result of promoting natural gas production-supply-storage-sale system, and actively expanding market share.

 

In 2019, petroleum products (mainly consisting of refined oil products and other refined petroleum products) sold by Refining Segment and Marketing and Distribution Segment achieved external sales revenues of RMB 1,535.2 billion (accounting for 51.8% of the Company's turnover and other operating revenues), representing a decrease of 1.5% over 2018, mainly due to the decrease in petroleum products' prices. The sales revenue of gasoline, diesel and kerosene was RMB 1,303.6 billion, representing a decrease of 1.1% over 2018, and accounting for 85% of the total sales revenue of petroleum products. Turnover of other refined petroleum products was RMB 231.6 billion, representing a decrease of 3.4% compared with 2018, accounting for 15% of the total sales revenue of petroleum products.

 

The Company's external sales revenue of chemical products was RMB 425.5 billion, representing a decrease of 7% over 2018, accounting for 14.3% of the Company's total turnover and other operating revenues. This was mainly due to the decrease in price of chemical products, which resulting from the increase of supply in chemical market.

 

(2)  Operating expenses

In 2019, the Company's operating expenses was RMB 2,880 billion, increased by 2.5% compared with 2018. The operating expenses mainly consisted of the following:

 

Purchased crude oil, products and operating supplies and expenses was RMB 2,380.9 billion, representing an increase of 3.8% over the same period of 2018, accounting for 82.7% of the total operating expenses, of which:

 

Crude oil purchasing expenses was RMB 681.2 billion, representing a decrease of 2.9% over the same period of 2018. Throughput of crude oil purchased externally in 2019 was 228.74 million tonnes (excluding the volume processed for third parties), representing an increase of 0.7% over the same period of 2018. The average cost of crude oil purchased externally was RMB 3,326 per tonne, representing a decrease by 3.6% over 2018.

 

The Company's purchasing expenses of refined oil products was RMB 364.9 billion, representing an increase of 2.6% over the same period of 2018.

 

The Company's purchasing expense related to trading activities was RMB 738.3 billion, representing an increase of 12.6% over the same period of 2018.

 

The Company's other purchasing expenses was RMB 596.5 billion, representing an increase of 2.7% over the same period of 2018.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses was RMB 55.3 billion, representing a decrease of 15.7% over 2018. This was mainly because the company significantly reduced non-operating costs, and adjusted accounting of some of the gas station, land and other rental expenses to depreciation and interests expense as required by the New Leasing Rules.

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortisation was RMB 108.8 billion, representing a decrease of 1.1% compared with 2018. That was mainly due to the depletion of oil and gas assets decreased as a result of the Company's proved reserves of crude oil and natural gas increased.

 

Exploration expenses was RMB 10.5 billion, representing a decrease of 2.2% year on year.

 

Personnel expenses was RMB 81.5 billion, representing an increase of 4.8% over 2018.

 

Taxes other than income tax was RMB 242.5 billion, representing a decrease of 1.6% compared with 2018. That was mainly due to the decrease of RMB 3.2 billion in urban maintenance and construction tax and education surcharges resulting from the decrease of value added tax rate.

 

Other operating expense, net was RMB 440 million.

 

(3)  Operating profit was RMB 86.2 billion, representing an increase of 4.8% compared with 2018. That was mainly due to a significant increase of profit in upstream business.

 

(4)  Profit before taxation was RMB 89.9 billion, representing a decrease of 9.3% compared with 2018. That was mainly because the margin of major refining products shrank.

 

(5)  Income tax expense was RMB 17.9 billion, representing a decrease of 11.5% year on year.

 

(6)  Profit attributable to non-controlling interests was RMB 14.6 billion, representing a decrease of RMB 2.7 billion compared with 2018.

 

(7)  Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company was RMB 57.5 billion, representing a decrease of 6.7% year on year.

 

2    RESULTS OF SEGMENT OPERATIONS

The Company manages its operations through four business segments, namely exploration and production segment, refining segment, marketing and distribution segment and chemicals segment, and corporate and others. Unless otherwise specified, the inter-segment transactions have not been eliminated from financial data discussed in this section. In addition, the operating revenue data of each segment include other operating revenues.

 

The following table shows the operating revenues by each segment, the contribution of external sales and inter-segment sales as a percentage of operating revenues before elimination of inter-segment sales, and the contribution of external sales as a percentage of consolidated operating revenues (i.e. after elimination of inter-segment sales) for the periods indicated.

 

	Operating revenues Year ended 31 December		As a percentage of consolidated operating revenue before elimination of inter-segment sales Year ended 31 December		As a percentage of consolidated operating revenue after elimination of inter-segment sales Year ended 31 December
	2019	2018	2019	2018	2019	2018
	RMB million	RMB million	(%)	(%)	(%)	(%)
Exploration and Production Segment
External sales*	121,379	104,237	2.5	2.2	4.1	3.6
Inter-segment sales	89,315	95,954	1.8	2.0
Operating revenues	210,712	200,191	4.3	4.2
Refining Segment
External sales*	147,138	154,319	3.0	3.2	5.0	5.3
Inter-segment sales	1,077,018	1,109,088	22.4	22.9
Operating revenues	1,224,156	1,263,407	25.4	26.1
Marketing and Distribution Segment
External sales*	1,426,804	1,441,413	29.4	29.9	48.1	49.9
Inter-segment sales	4,159	5,224	0.1	0.1
Operating revenues	1,430,963	1,446,637	29.5	30.0
Chemicals Segment
External sales*	440,369	472,898	9.1	9.8	14.8	16.4
Inter-segment sales	54,856	73,835	1.1	1.5
Operating revenues	495,234	546,733	10.2	11.3
Corporate and Others
External sales*	830,485	718,312	17.1	14.9	28.0	24.8
Inter-segment sales	654,337	650,271	13.5	13.5
Operating revenues	1,484,822	1,368,583	30.6	28.4
Operating revenue before elimination of inter-segment sales	4,845,887	4,825,551	100.0	100.0
Elimination of inter-segment sales	(1,879,694)	(1,934,372)
Turnover and other operating revenues	2,966,193	2,891,179			100.0	100.0

 

*:      Other operating revenues are included.

 

The following table sets forth the operating revenues, operating expenses and operating profit by each segment before elimination of the inter-segment transactions for the periods indicated, and the percentage change of 2019 compared to 2018.

 

	Year ended 31 December
	2019	2018	Change
	RMB million	RMB million	(%)
Exploration and Production Segment
Operating revenues	210,712	200,191	5.3
Operating expenses	201,428	210,298	(4.2)
Operating loss	9,284	(10,107)	-
Refining Segment
Operating revenues	1,224,156	1,263,407	(3.1)
Operating expenses	1,193,524	1,208,580	(1.2)
Operating profit	30,632	54,827	(44.1)
Marketing and Distribution Segment
Operating revenues	1,430,963	1,446,637	(1.1)
Operating expenses	1,401,856	1,423,173	(1.5)
Operating profit	29,107	23,464	24.0
Chemicals Segment
Operating revenues	495,234	546,733	(9.4)
Operating expenses	478,083	519,726	(8.0)
Operating profit	17,151	27,007	(36.5)
Corporate and Others
Operating revenues	1,484,822	1,368,583	8.5
Operating expenses	1,484,758	1,377,876	7.8
Operating loss	64	(9,293)	-
Elimination of inter-segment (loss)/profit	(40)	(3,634)	-

 

(1)  Exploration and Production Segment

Most crude oil and a small portion of the natural gas produced by the exploration and production segment were used for the Company's refining and chemical production. Most of the natural gas and a small portion of crude oil were sold externally to other customers.

 

In 2019, the operating revenues of this segment was RMB 210.7 billion, representing an increase of 5.3% over 2018. This was mainly attributed to the rise of realised price and sales volume in natural gas as a result of the expansion of natural gas business.

 

In 2019, the segment sold 34.35 million tonnes of crude oil, representing a decrease of 1.3% over 2018. Natural gas sales volume was 28.78 billion cubic meters (bcm), representing an increase of 9.7% over 2018. Regasified LNG sales volume was 11.16 bcm, representing an increase of 33.9% over 2018. LNG sales volume was 4.74 million tonnes, representing an increase of 65.9% over 2018. Average realised prices of crude oil, natural gas, Regasified LNG, and LNG were RMB 2,862 per tonne, RMB 1,566 per thousand cubic meters, RMB 2,040 per thousand cubic meters, and RMB 3,305 per tonne, representing decrease of 6.0%, increase of 11.1%, 5.5%, and decrease of 12.6% respectively over 2018.

 

In 2019, the operating expenses of this segment was RMB 201.4 billion, representing a decrease of 4.2% over 2018. That was mainly due to the following:

 

‧    Depreciation, depletion and amortisation decreased by RMB 9.6 billion year on year;

 

‧    Payment of land use right and community services expenses decreased by RMB 5.7 billion year on year;

 

‧    Impairment losses on long-lived assets decreased by RMB 4.3 billion year on year;

 

‧    Resource Tax and special oil income levy decreased by RMB 2.0 billion year on year;

 

‧    Procurement cost increased by RMB 10.6 billion year on year, as a result of expansion of LNG business scale;

 

‧    Personnel expenses increased by RMB 1.7 billion year on year.

 

In 2019, the oil and gas lifting cost was RMB 782 per tonne, representing a year on year decrease of 1.8%.

 

In 2019, the operating profit of the exploration and production segment was RMB 9.3 billion, representing an increase of RMB 19.4 billion compared with 2018. The segment reinforced efficient exploration and profit-oriented development, enhanced stable production of crude oil, accelerated construction of natural gas production-supply-storage-sale system and actively expanding market and promoting sales, strengthened cost control, and effectively improved profitability.

 

(2)  Refining Segment

Business activities of the refining segment include purchasing crude oil from third parties and the exploration and production segment of the Company, as well as processing crude oil into refined petroleum products. Gasoline, diesel and kerosene are sold internally to the marketing and distribution segment of the Company; part of the chemical feedstock is sold to the chemicals segment of the Company; and other refined petroleum products are sold externally to both domestic and overseas customers.

 

In 2019, the operating revenues of this segment was RMB 1,224.2 billion, representing a decrease of 3.1% over 2018. This was mainly attributed to the decrease in products prices compared with the same period of last year.

 

The following table sets forth the sales volumes, average realised prices and the respective changes of the Company's major refined oil products of the segment in 2019 and 2018.

 

	Sales Volume (thousand tonnes)			Average realised price (RMB/tonne)
	Year ended 31 December			Year ended 31 December
	2019	2018	Change (%)	2019	2018	Change (%)
Gasoline	60,750	59,746	1.7	7,057	7,386	(4.5)
Diesel	63,509	62,676	1.3	5,477	5,766	(5.0)
Kerosene	23,890	22,418	6.6	4,252	4,515	(5.8)
Chemical feedstock	39,720	38,524	3.1	3,531	3,910	(9.7)
Other refined petroleum products	61,890	61,439	0.7	3,237	3,312	(2.3)

 

In 2019, sales revenues of gasoline was RMB 428.7 billion, representing a decrease of 2.9% over 2018.

 

The sales revenues of diesel was RMB 347.8 billion, representing a decrease of 3.7% over 2018.

 

The sales revenues of kerosene was RMB 101.6 billion, representing an increase of 0.4% over 2018.

 

The sales revenues of chemical feedstock was RMB 140.2 billion, representing a decrease of 6.9% over 2018.

 

The sales revenues of refined petroleum products other than gasoline, diesel, kerosene and chemical feedstock was RMB 200.3 billion, representing a decrease of 1.6% over 2018.

 

In 2019, the segment's operating expenses was RMB 1,193.5 billion, representing a decrease of 1.2% over 2018. This was mainly attributed to the decrease in procurement cost of crude oil.

 

In 2019, the average processing cost for crude oil was RMB 3,403 per tonne, representing a decrease of 4.1% over 2018. Total crude oil processed was 252.5 million tonnes (excluding volume processed for third parties), representing an increase of 1.7% over 2018. The total cost of crude oil processed was RMB 859.3 billion, representing a decrease of 2.4% over 2018.

 

In 2019, refining gross margin was RMB 366 per tonne, decreased by RMB 96 per tonne representing a reduction of 20.8% compared with 2018. This is mainly due to the fluctuation of price spread between heavy and light crude oil, increase of freight and insurance costs for overseas shipments, as well as the narrowed gross margin of refined petroleum products other than gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

 

In 2019, the unit refining cash operating cost (defined as operating expenses less the processing cost of crude oil and refining feedstock, depreciation and amortisation, taxes other than income tax and other operating expenses, then divided by the throughput of crude oil and refining feedstock) was RMB 178 per tonne, a decrease of 1.4% over 2018.

 

In 2019, the operating profit of the segment totaled RMB 30.6 billion, representing a decline of RMB 24.2 billion compared with 2018.

 

(3)  Marketing and Distribution Segment

The business activities of the marketing and distribution segment include purchasing refined oil products from the refining segment and third parties, conducting wholesale and direct sales to domestic customers and distributing oil products through the segment's retail and distribution network, as well as providing related services.

 

In 2019, the operating revenues of this segment was RMB 1,431 billion, representing a decrease of 1.1% over 2018, of which: the sales revenues of gasoline totaled RMB 681.5 billion, representing a decrease of 1.7% compared with 2018; the sales revenues of diesel was RMB 507.5 billion, representing a decrease of 0.3% over 2018, and the sales revenues of kerosene was RMB 116.3 billion, representing a decrease of 1.1% over 2018.

 

The following table sets forth the sales volumes, average realised prices, and the respective percentage changes of the segment's four major refined oil products in 2019 and 2018, including breakdown in retail, direct sales and wholesale of gasoline and diesel:

 

	Sales Volume (Thousand tonnes)			Average realised price (RMB/tonne)
	Year ended 31 December			Year ended 31 December
	2019	2018	Change (%)	2019	2018	Change (%)
Gasoline	92,261	88,076	4.8	7,387	7,870	(6.1)
Retail	66,440	66,855	(0.6)	7,968	8,296	(4.0)
Direct sales and wholesale	25,820	21,221	21.7	5,892	6,524	(9.7)
Diesel	87,335	84,865	2.9	5,812	5,998	(3.1)
Retail	43,503	43,327	0.4	6,227	6,435	(3.2)
Direct sales and wholesale	43,832	41,537	5.5	5,399	5,541	(2.6)
Kerosene	27,068	25,787	5.0	4,297	4,562	(5.8)
Fuel	21,772	23,372	(6.8)	3,072	2,974	3.3

 

In 2019, the operating expenses of the segment was RMB 1,401.9 billion, representing a decrease of RMB 21.3 billion or 1.5% as compared with that of 2018. This was mainly due to the decrease in refined oil products procured price which resulting in the decrease of procurement cost for RMB 22 billion.

 

In 2019, the segment's marketing cash operating cost (defined as the operating expenses less purchase costs, taxes other than income tax, depreciation and amortisation, and then divided by the sales volume) was RMB 183 per tonne, representing a decrease of 11.9% compared with that of 2018. This was mainly due to the adjusted accounting of some of the gas station, land and other right of use assets as required by the New Leasing Rules.

 

In 2019, the segment exerted advantages of integrated business and distribution network into full play, reinforced the coordination of internal and external resources, promoted targeted marketing and differentiated marketing to improve service quality, and constantly increased profits and sales volume. Meanwhile, we enhanced the development and sales of company-owned brand and put efforts to expand non-fuel business scale and profitability.

 

In 2019, the operating profit of this segment was RMB 29.1 billion, representing an increase of 24% compared with 2018.

 

(4)  Chemicals Segment

The business activities of the chemicals segment include purchasing chemical feedstock from the refining segment and third parties, producing, marketing and distributing petrochemical and inorganic chemical products.

 

In 2019, the operating revenue of the chemicals segment was RMB 495.2 billion, representing a decrease of 9.4% as compared with that of 2018. This was mainly due to sharp decrease in prices of chemical products as a result of the concentrated release of new capacity, as well as the change of supply-demand structure.

 

The sales revenues generated by the segment's six major categories of chemical products (namely basic organic chemicals, synthetic resin, synthetic fibre monomer and polymer, synthetic fibre, synthetic rubber, and chemical fertiliser) totaled RMB 465.9 billion, representing a decrease of 9.7% as compared with 2018, and accounted for 94.1% of the operating revenues of the segment.

 

The following table sets forth the sales volume, average realised prices and respective percentage changes of each of the segment's six major categories of chemical products in 2019 and 2018.

 

	Sales Volume (Thousand tonnes)			Average realised price (RMB/tonne)
	Year ended 31 December			Year ended 31 December
	2019	2018	Change (%)	2019	2018	Change (%)
Basic organic chemicals	52,007	52,450	(0.8)	4,518	5,281	(14.4)
Synthetic fibre monomer and polymer	14,089	11,252	25.2	5,722	6,978	(18.0)
Synthetic resin	16,131	15,325	5.3	7,718	8,646	(10.7)
Synthetic fibre	1,370	1,314	4.3	8,438	9,712	(13.1)
Synthetic rubber	1,284	1,278	0.5	9,595	10,750	(10.7)
Chemical fertiliser	925	796	16.2	2,109	2,093	0.8

 

In 2019, the operating expenses of the chemicals segment was RMB 478.1 billion, representing a decrease of 8.0% over 2018, mainly because of the decrease in the price of externally procured raw materials as compared with the same period in 2018.

 

In 2019, confronted with the business cycle correction and decreased chemical margin, the Company strengthened the coordination among research, development, production and marketing, continuously reinforced the profit prediction based on the market, optimised the structures of feedstock, product and facilities, intensified allocation of resources, pushed ahead with targeted marketing and precise service strategy, and achieved steadily growing sales volume of petrochemicals. The operating profit of this segment was RMB 17.2 billion

 

(5)  Corporate and Others

The business activities of corporate and others mainly consist of import and export business activities of the Company's subsidiaries, R&D activities of the Company, and managerial activities of headquarters.

 

In 2019, the operating revenues generated from corporate and others was RMB 1,484.8 billion, representing an increase of 8.5% over 2018. This was mainly attributed to the increase in value of trade from crude oil and overseas refined oil products, as well as the rapid growth of the equipment and petrochemicals business transaction scale through Epec platform.

 

In 2019, the operating expenses of corporate and others was RMB 1,484.7 billion, representing an increase of 7.8% over 2018.

 

In 2019, the operating profit from corporate and others was RMB 0.1 billion.

 

3    ASSETS, LIABILITIES, EQUITY AND CASH FLOWS

The major funding sources of the Company are its operating activities and short-term and long-term loans. The major use of funds includes operating expenses, capital expenditures, and repayment of the short-term and long-term debts.

 

(1)  Assets, liabilities and equity

 

Unit: RMB million

 

	As of 31 December 2019	As of 31 December 2018	Change
Total assets	1,755,071	1,592,308	162,763
Current assets	445,856	504,120	(58,264)
Non-current assets	1,309,215	1,088,188	221,027
Total liabilities	879,236	735,773	143,463
Current liabilities	576,374	565,098	11,276
Non-current liabilities	302,862	170,675	132,187
Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company	738,150	717,284	20,866
Share capital	121,071	121,071	0
Reserves	617,079	596,213	20,866
Non-controlling interests	137,685	139,251	(1,566)
Total equity	875,835	856,535	19,300

 

As of 31 December 2019, the Company's total assets was RMB 1,755.1 billion, representing an increase of RMB 162.8 billion compared with that of the end of 2018, of which:

 

Current assets was RMB 445.9 billion, representing a decrease of RMB 58.3 billion compared with that of the end of 2018, mainly because the cash and cash equivalents decreased by RMB 51.6 billion, financial assets at fair value through profit or loss decreased by RMB 20.8 billion, accounts receivable and bills receivable decreased by RMB 10.0 billion, and the time deposits with financial institution increased by RMB 12.5 billion, inventories and other current assets increased by RMB 11.7 billion.

 

Non-current assets was RMB 1,309.2 billion, representing an increase of RMB 221.0 billion as compared with that of the end of 2018. This was mainly due to the right-of-use assets increased by 267.9 and the lease prepayments decreased by RMB 64.5 billion in accordance with New Leasing Rules, construction in progress and net value of property, plant and equipment increased by RMB 41.2 billion, equity of associates and joint ventures increased by RMB 6.2 billion, and deferred tax assets decreased by RMB 4.1 billion.

 

The Company's total liabilities was RMB 879.2 billion, representing an increase of RMB 143.5 billion compared with that of the end of 2018, of which:

 

Current liabilities was RMB 576.4 billion, representing an increase of RMB 11.3 billion as compared with that of the end of 2018. This was mainly due to the short-term debts and borrowings from Sinopec Group increased by RMB 22.7 billion, lease liabilities increased by RMB 15.2 billion, accounts payable, bills payable and liabilities from contracts increased by RMB 9.0 billion, and derivative financial liabilities decreased by RMB 10.8 billion, other payables decreased by RMB 21.3 billion.

 

Non-current liabilities was RMB 302.9 billion, representing an increase of RMB 132.2 billion compared with that of the end of 2018. This was mainly due to lease liabilities increased by RMB 177.7 billion in accordance with New Leasing Rules, long-term debts and borrowings from Sinopec Group decreased by RMB 34.7 billion, and other non-current assets decreased by RMB 12.0 billion.

 

Total equity attributable to owners of the Company was RMB 738.2 billion, representing an increase of RMB 20.9 billion compared with that of the end of 2018, which was mainly due to the capital reserve increased by RMB 20.9 billion.

 

(2)  Cash Flow

The following table sets forth the major items in the consolidated cash flow statements for 2019 and 2018.

 

Unit: RMB million

 

Major items of cash flows	Year ended 31 December
	2019	2018
Net cash generated from operating activities	153,420	175,868
Net cash used in investing activities	(120,463)	(66,422)
Net cash used in financing activities	(84,713)	(111,260)

 

In 2019, the net cash generated from operating activities of the company was RMB 153.4 billion, representing a decrease of RMB 22.4 billion as compared with 2018. Of which: profit before taxation decreased by RMB 9.2 billion, loss from assets impairment decreased by RMB 9.8 billion, depreciation, depletion & amortization and amortization for dry wells write-off decreased by RMB 2.2 billion, interest expenses increased by RMB 9.7 billion, exchange rate and derivatives financial instruments loss/(gain) increased by 5.5 billion, net change of accounts receivable and other current assets decreased by RMB 10.8 billion, net change of inventory decreased by RMB 60.0 billion, net change of accounts payable and other current liabilities decreased by RMB 17.3 billion, and the paid income tax decreased by RMB 13.6 billion as compared with 2018.

 

In 2019, the net cash used in investing activities was RMB 120.5 billion, representing an increase of cash outflow of RMB 54.0 billion over 2018. Of which: capital expenditure and wildcat expenditure increased by RMB 38.1 billion, purchasing investment and associates and joint ventures investments decreased by RMB 6.6 billion, cash inflow from changes of financial assets which are measured at fair value through profit or loss decreased by RMB 3.0 billion, outcome from time deposit with maturities over three months increased by RMB 9.2 billion.

 

In 2019, the net cash used in the Company's financing activities was RMB 84.7 billion, representing a decrease of cash outflow by RMB 26.5 billion over 2018. This was mainly due to the cash out flow from the changes of loans increased to RMB 13.2 billion, cash paid for dividends decrease the expenditure by RMB 21.8 billion, subsidiary companies allocated to non-controlling shareholders reduced expenses by 6.3 billion yuan, investments from non-controlling shareholders increased by RMB 2.0 billion, and repayment for lease liabilities increased by RMB 16.8 billion.

 

At the end of 2019, the cash and cash equivalents was RMB 60.3 billion.

 

(3)  Contingent Liabilities

Please refer to"Material Guarantee Contracts and Their Performances"in the"Significant Events"section of this report.

 

(4)  Capital Expenditures

Please refer to "Capital Expenditures" in the "Business Review and Prospects" section of this report.

 

(5)  Research & development and environmental expenditures

R&D expenditures occurred in the period including R&D expenses, expenditures for wildcat exploration, seismic data interpretation, and pilot demonstration project in upstream, expenditures for pilot test and relevant utilities of initial commercial trial in refining segment, as well as expenditures for research equipment. In 2019, the expenditures for R&D was RMB 15.539 billion, of which expense was RMB 9.395 billion, and capitalised cost was RMB 6.144 billion.

 

Environmental expenditures refer to the normal routine pollutant discharge fees paid by the Company, excluding capitalised cost of pollutant treatment properties. In 2019, the Company paid environmental expenditures of RMB 9.235 billion.

 

(6)  Measurement of fair values of derivatives and relevant system

The Company has established sound decision-making mechanism, business process and internal control systems relevant to financial instrument accounting and information disclosure.

 

Items relevant to measurement of main fair values                                                                                                                                            Unit: RMB million

 

Items	Beginning of the year	End of the year	Profits and losses from variation of fair values in the current year	Accumulated variation of fair values recorded as equity	Impairment loss provision of the current year	Funding source
Available for sale financial assets	25,732	3,319	215	0	0	Self-owned fund
Structured Deposit	25,550	3,318	187	0	0	Self-owned fund
Stock	182	1	28	0	0	Self-owned fund
Derivative financial instruments	1,584	48	(4,384)	0	0	-
Cash flow hedges	(7,268)	(1,940)	(222)	5,258	0	-
Other equity instruments investment	1,450	1,521	0	(38)	0	-
Total	21,498	2,948	(4,391)	5,220	0	-

 

4    ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PREPARED UNDER CASs

The major differences between the Company's financial statements prepared under CASs and IFRS are set out in Section C of the financial statements of the Company on page 204 of this report.

 

(1)  Under CASs, the operating income and operating profit or loss by reportable segments were as follows:

 

	Year ended 31 December
	2019	2018
	RMB million	RMB million
Operating income
Exploration and Production Segment	210,712	200,191
Refining Segment	1,224,156	1,263,407
Marketing and Distribution Segment	1,430,963	1,446,637
Chemicals Segment	495,234	546,733
Corporate and Others	1,484,822	1,368,583
Elimination of inter-segment sales	(1,879,694)	(1,934,372)
Consolidated operating income	2,966,193	2,891,179
Operating profit/(loss)
Exploration and Production Segment	6,289	(11,557)
Refining Segment	30,074	53,703
Marketing and Distribution Segment	29,781	24,106
Chemicals Segment	16,586	25,970
Corporate and Others	3,530	(8,151)
Elimination of inter-segment sales	(40)	(3,634)
Financial expenses, investment income, gains/(losses) from changes in fair value, asset disposal  expense and other income	3,805	21,037
Consolidated operating profit	90,025	101,474
Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company	57,591	63,089

 

Operating profit: In 2019, the operating profit of the Company was RMB 90.0 billion, representing a decrease of RMB 11.4 billion as compared with 2018.

 

Net profit: In 2019, the net profit attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company was RMB 57.6 billion, representing a decrease of RMB 5.5 billion or 8.7% compared with 2018.

 

(2)  Financial data prepared under CASs

 

	As of 31	As of 31
	December 2019	December 2018	Change
	RMB million	RMB million
Total assets	1,755,071	1,592,308	162,763
Non-current liabilities	301,792	169,551	132,241
Shareholders' equity	876,905	857,659	19,246

 

At the end of 2019, the Company's total assets was RMB 1,755.1 billion, representing an increase of RMB 162.8 billion compared with that of the end of 2018.

 

At the end of 2019, the Company's non-current liabilities was RMB 301.8 billion, representing an increase of RMB 132.2 billion compared with that of the end of 2018.

 

At the end of 2019, the shareholders' equity of the Company was RMB 876.9 billion, representing an increase of RMB 19.2 billion compared with that of the end of 2018.

 

(3)  The results of the principal operations by segments

 

Segments	Operation income RMB million	Operation cost RMB million	Gross profit margin* (%)	Increase/ (decrease) of operation income on a year-on-year basis (%)	Increase/ (decrease) of operation cost on a year-on- year basis (%)	Increase/ (decrease) of gross profit margin on a year-on-year basis (%)
Exploration and Production	210,712	168,548	15.5	5.3	1.9	3.9
Refining	1,224,156	943,484	4.3	(3.1)	(1.0)	(2.1)
Marketing and Distribution	1,430,963	1,333,672	6.6	(1.1)	(1.6)	0.5
Chemicals	495,234	453,951	8.0	(9.4)	(7.9)	(1.4)
Corporate and Others	1,484,822	1,468,851	1.1	8.5	7.6	0.9
Elimination of inter-segment sales	(1,879,694)	(1,879,654)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Total	2,966,193	2,488,852	7.9	2.6	3.7	(0.5)

 

*:      Gross profit margin = (operation income - operation cost, tax and surcharges)/operation income.

 

5    THE CAUSE AND IMPACT OF THE CHANGE IN THE COMPANY'S ACCOUNTING POLICY

Please refer to the note 3(26) in the financial statement complying with the PRC Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises (CASs) and the note 1 in the financial statement complying with the IFRS.

 

6    SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN MAJOR ASSETS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

During the reporting period, there are no significant changes in the Company's major assets.

 

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

 

1    MAJOR PROJECTS

 

(1)  Zhongke integrated refining and chemical project

Zhongke integrated refining and petrochemical project mainly consists of a 10,000,000 tpa refinery project, 800,000 tpa ethylene unit, 300,000 tonne capacity jetty and relevant utilities project. It achieved mechanical completion on 28 December 2019. The Company's self-owned fund accounts for 30% of the project investment, bank loan is the main source of the remaining 70%. As of 31 December 2019, the aggregate investment was RMB 30.3 billion.

 

(2)  Zhenhai Refining & Chemical expansion project

Zhenhai Refining & Chemical expansion project consists of 15,000,000 tpa refinery project and 1,200,000 tpa ethylene project. The project was approved in June 2018, ethylene and relevant projects started at the end of October 2018 and is expected to achieve the mechanical completion in December 2021. The Company's self-owned fund accounts for 30% of the project investment, bank loan is the main source of the remaining 70%. As of 31 December 2019, the aggregate investment was RMB 3.1 billion.

 

(3)  Hainan Refining and Chemical expansion project

Hainan Refining and Chemical expansion project consists of 5,000,000 tpa refinery project and 1,000,000 tpa ethylene project, among which second set of high-efficiency and environment-friendly aromatics project started in August 2017 and wasput into operation in September 2019. The Company's self-owned fund accounts for approximately 30% of the project investment and bank loan is the main source of the remaining 70%. As of 31 December 2019, the aggregate investment was RMB 5.6 billion.

 

(4)  Wuhan de-bottleneck project

Wuhan de-bottleneck project mainly consists of an 800,000 tpa-to-1,100,000 tpa ethylene capacity expansion project. The project started at the end of October 2018 and is expected to achieve the mechanical completion in December 2020. The Company's self-owned fund accounts for approximately 30% of the project investment and bank loan is the main source of the remaining 70%. As of 31 December 2019, the aggregate investment was RMB 2.5 billion.

 

(5)  Weirong shale gas project

Under the guidance of "overall deployment, stage-wise implementation and fully consideration", the building of first phase of production capacity, which is 1 billion cubic meters per year, was promoted comprehensively since August 2018. It is expected to be completed and put into operation in December 2020. The Company's self-owned fund accounts for 30% of the project investment and bank loan is the main source of the remaining 70%. As of 31 December 2019, the aggregate investment was RMB 2.3 billion.

 

(6)  Xinqi pipeline project

The main project of the first phase of Xinqi pipeline project was the construction of the pipeline from Qianjiang to Shaoguan. The total length of the pipeline is 839.5 kilometers with a designed transmission capacity of 6 billion cubic meters per year. It is expected to be completed and put into operation in July 2020. The Company's self-owned fund accounts for 38% of the project investment and bank loan is the main source of the remaining 62%. As of 31 December 2019, the aggregate investment was RMB 8.0 billion.

 

(7)  Erdos-Anping-Cangzhou gas pipeline project

The first phase of E-An-Cang gas pipeline project mainly consists of the main pipeline from Luquan to Cangzhou and two branch pipelines Puyang and Baoding. The total length of the pipeline is 736 kilometers with a designed transmission capacity of 9 billion cubic meters per year. It was completed and put into operation in September 2019. The Company's self-owned fund accounts for 30% of the project investment and bank loan is the main source of the remaining 70%. As of 31 December 2019, the aggregate investment was RMB 6.4 billion.

 

(8)  Wen 23 gas storage project

The first phase of Wen 23 gas storage project mainly consists of the construction of injection and production wells and surface facilities with storage capacity of 8.431 billion cubic meters. The gas storage is expected to be officially put into operation in July 2020. The Company's self-owned fund accounts for 30% of the project investment and bank loan is the main source of the remaining 70%. As of 31 December 2019, the aggregate investment was RMB 12.1 billion.

 

2    CORPORATE BONDS ISSUED AND INTEREST PAYMENTS

 

Basic information of corporate bonds

 

	Sinopec Corp.	Sinopec Corp.	Sinopec Corp
Bond name	2010 Corporate bond	2012 Corporate bond	2015 Corporate bond (first issue)
Abbreviation	10石化02	12石化02	15石化02
Code	122052	122150	136040
Issuance date	21 May 2010	1 June 2012	19 November 2015
Maturity date	21 May 2020	1 June 2022	19 November 2020
Amount issued (RMB billion)	9	7	4
Outstanding balance (RMB billion)	9	7	4
Interest rate (%)	4.05	4.90	3.70
Principal and interest repayment	Simple interest is calculated and paid on an annual basis without compounding interests. The principal will be paid at maturity with last installment of interest.
Payment of interests	Sinopec Corp. had paid in full the interest accrued for the current period interest payment year.
Investor Qualification Arrangement	15石化02 was publicly offered to qualified investors in accordance with Administration of the Issuance and Trading of Corporate Bonds.
Listing exchange	Shanghai Stock Exchange
Corporate bonds trustee	China International Capital Corporation Limited
	27th-28th Floor, China World Office 2, 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing
	Huang Xu, Zhai Ying
	(010) 6505 1166
Credit rating agency	United Credit Ratings Co., Ltd.
	12th Floor, PICC building, No.2 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Use of proceeds	Proceeds from the above-mentioned corporate bonds have been used for their designated purpose as disclosed. All the proceeds have been completely used.
Credit rating	During the reporting period, United Credit Ratings Co., Ltd. provided credit rating for 10石化02, 12石化02 and 15石化02 and reaffirmed AAA credit rating in the continuing credit rating report. The long term credit rating of Sinopec Corp. remained AAA with its outlook being stable. Pursuant to relevant regulations, Sinopec Corp. has published latest credit rating results through media designated by regulators within six months commencing from the end date of the reporting period.
Credit addition mechanism, repayment scheme and other relative events for corporate bonds during the reporting period	During the reporting period, there is no arrangement to credit addition mechanism and change of the repayment for the above-mentioned corporate bonds. Sinopec Corp. strictly followed the provisions in the corporate bond prospectus to repay interests of the corporate bonds to bondholders.
	The guarantee of 10石化02 and 12石化02 is China Petrochemical Corporation. For more information of the guarantor, please refer to the annual report of corporate bonds which will be published in April 2020 on website of Shanghai Stock Exchange by China Petrochemical Corporation.
Convening of corporate bond holders' meeting	During the reporting period, the bondholders' meeting was not convened.
Performance of corporate bonds trustee	During the durations of the above-mentioned bonds, the bond trustee, China International Capital Corporation Limited, has strictly followed the Bond Trustee Management Agreement and continuously tracked the Company's credit status, utilisation of bond proceeds and repayment of principals and interests of the bond. The bond trustee has also advised the Company to fulfil obligations as described in the corporate bond prospectus and exercised its duty to protect the bondholders' legitimate rights and interests. The bond trustee will disclose the Trustee Management Affairs Report after the announcement of annual report. The full disclosure is available on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange (http://www.sse.com.cn).

 

Principal accounting data and financial indicators for the two years ended 31 December 2019

 

Principal data	2019	2018	Change	Reasons for change
EBITDA (RMB million)	214,413	216,352	(1,939)	Mainly due to the decrease of earnings compared with last year
Current ratio	0.77	0.89	(0.12)	Mainly due to the decrease of current asset
Quick ratio	0.44	0.57	(0.13)	Mainly due to the increase of inventories
Liability-to-asset ratio (%)	50.04	46.14	3.9 percentage points	Due to the impact of New Lease Standard
EBITDA to total debt ratio	1.25	1.33	(0.08)	Due to the decrease of EBITDA
Interest coverage ratio	6.42	16.76	(10.34)	Due to the impact of New Lease Standard
Cash flow interest coverage ratio	29.07	35.92	(6.85)	Due to the impact of New Lease Standard
EBITDA-to-interest coverage ratio	12.92	33.93	(21.01)	Due to the increase of interest expense as a result of New Lease Standard
Loan repayment rate (%)	100	100	-
Interest payment rate (%)	100	100	-

 

During the reporting period, the Company paid in full the interest accrued for the other bonds and debt financing instruments. As at 31 December 2019, the standby credit line provided by several domestic financial institutions to the Company was RMB 379.6 billion in total, facilitating the Company to get such amount of unsecured loans. The Company has fulfilled all the relevant undertakings in the offering circular of corporate bonds and had no significant matters which could influence the Company's operation and debt paying ability.

 

On 18 April 2013, Sinopec Capital (2013) Limited, a wholly-owned overseas subsidiary of Sinopec Corp., issued senior notes guaranteed by the Company with four different maturities, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years and 30 years. The 3-year notes principal totaled USD 750 million, with an annual interest rate of 1.250% and had been repaid and delisted; the 5-year notes principal totaled USD 1 billion, with an annual interest rate of 1.875% and had been repaid and delisted; the 10-year notes principal totaled USD 1.25 billion, with an annual interest rate of 3.125%; and the 30-year notes principal totaled USD 500 million, with an annual interest rate of 4.250%. These notes were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 25 April 2013, with interest payable semi-annually. The first payment of interest was made on 24 October 2013. During the reporting period, the Company has paid in full the current-period interests of all notes with maturity of 10 years and 30 years.

 

3    SHARE OPTION INCENTIVE SCHEME OF SINOPEC CORP.'S SUBSIDIARY, SINOPEC SHANGHAI PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY LIMITED (SHANGHAI PETRO), DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

 

The Share Option Incentive Scheme of Shanghai Petro took effect from 23 December 2014, with a validity period of 10 years until 22 December 2024. The first grant of Shanghai Petro's A-share share options under the Share Option Incentive Scheme was on 6 January 2015. For details, please refer to the relevant announcements uploaded on the websites of Shanghai Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shanghai Petro on 6 January 2015. All the exercise periods of the first grant have ended on 28 December 2018. For details, please refer to the relevant announcements uploaded on the websites of Shanghai Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shanghai Petro on 28 December 2018. At present, Shanghai Petro has no other granting scheme.

 

During the reporting period, Shanghai Petro did not grant A-share share options under the Share Option Incentive Scheme, nor did the grantees exercise any A-share share options, and no A-share share options were cancelled or lapsed.

 

4    PERFORMANCE OF THE UNDERTAKINGS BY CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION

 

	Type of				Whether bears	Whether strictly
Background	Undertaking	Party	Contents	Term for performance	deadline or not	performed or not
Undertakings related to Initial Public Offerings (IPOs)	IPOs	China Petrochemical Corporation	1        Compliance with the connected transaction agreements;	From 22 June 2001	No	Yes
			2        Solving the issues regarding the legality of land-use rights certificates and property ownership rights certificates within a specified period of time;
			3        Implementation of the Reorganisation Agreement (please refer to the definition of Reorganisation Agreement in the H share prospectus of Sinopec Corp.);
			4        Granting licenses for intellectual property rights;
			5        Avoiding competition within the same industry;
			6        Abandonment of business competition and conflicts of interest with Sinopec Corp.
Other undertakings	Other	China Petrochemical Corporation	Given that China Petrochemical Corporation engages in the same or similar businesses as Sinopec Corp. with regard to the exploration and production of overseas petroleum and natural gas, China Petrochemical Corporation hereby grants a 10-year option to Sinopec Corp. with the following provisions: (i) after a thorough analysis from political, economic and other perspectives, Sinopec Corp. is entitled to require China Petrochemical Corporation to sell its overseas oil and gas assets owned as of the date of the undertaking and still in its possession upon Sinopec Corp.'s exercise of the option to Sinopec Corp.; (ii) in relation to the overseas oil and gas assets acquired by China Petrochemical Corporation after the issuance of the undertaking, within 10 years of the completion of such acquisition, after a thorough analysis from political, economic and other perspectives, Sinopec Corp. is entitled to require China Petrochemical Corporation to sell these assets to Sinopec Corp. China Petrochemical Corporation undertakes to transfer the assets as required by Sinopec Corp. under aforesaid items (i) and (ii) to Sinopec Corp., provided that the exercise of such option complies with applicable laws and regulations, contractual obligations and other procedural requirements.	Within 10 years after 29 April 2014 or the date when China Petrochemical Corporation acquires the assets	Yes	Yes

 

As of the date of this report, Sinopec Corp. had no undertakings in respect of financial performance, asset injections or asset restructuring that had not been fulfilled, nor did Sinopec Corp. make any profit forecast in relation to any asset or project.

 

5    CAPITAL INCREASE AND ASSETS TRANSFER TO SINOPEC-SK (WUHAN) PETROCHEMICAL CO., LTD. (SINOPEC-SK)

 

On 29 April 2019, Sinopec Corp. entered into the Sinopec-SK Capital Increase Agreement with Sinopec Group Asset Management Co., Ltd. (Sinopec Asset), SK GLOBAL CHEMICAL CO., LTD. (SKGC) and Sinopec-SK, jointly, to agree upon the Capital Increase in Sinopec-SK. Pursuant to the Sinopec-SK Capital Increase Agreement, (i) Sinopec Corp. shall contribute the Capital Increase Assets of Sinopec equivalent to RMB 549.0 million to Sinopec-SK, of which to subscribe for the newly increased registered capital of Sinopec-SK of RMB 168.37 million and the remaining part shall be included in the capital reserve of Sinopec-SK, (ii) Sinopec Asset shall contribute the Capital Increase Assets of Sinopec Asset equivalent to RMB 1.5022 billion to Sinopec-SK, of which to subscribe for the newly increased registered capital of Sinopec-SK of RMB 431.58 million and the remaining part shall be included in the capital reserve of Sinopec-SK, and (iii) SKGC shall contribute cash in RMB 1.1045 billion or equivalent USD to Sinopec-SK, of which to subscribe for the newly increased registered capital of Sinopec-SK of RMB 323.05 million and the remaining part shall be included in the capital reserve of Sinopec-SK. Upon completion of the Capital Increase, Sinopec Corp.'s shareholding in Sinopec-SK reduced from 65% to 59%, Sinopec Asset's shareholding increased from 0% to 6% and SKGC's shareholding remained unchanged at 35%. On the same date, Sinopec Corp. entered into the Asset Transfer Agreement with Sinopec-SK. The Capital Increase will help reduce the connected transactions between Sinopec Corp. and China Petrochemical Corporation and further improve the integrated operation level of Sinopec Corp., so as to enhance the comprehensive competitiveness of Sinopec Corp. in its business locations, the overall capability of risk resistance and expand its regional influence. The Sinopec-SK Capital Increase and the Asset Transfer were completed on 8 July 2019.

 

As Sinopec Asset is a subsidiary of the controlling shareholder of Sinopec Corp., China Petrochemical Corporation, pursuant to Chapter 14A of the Hong Kong Listing Rules, Sinopec Asset is an associate of China Petrochemical Corporation and thus constitutes a connected person of Sinopec Corp. As the Capital Increase constitutes deemed disposal of Sinopec Corp. under Rule 14.29 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules, accordingly, the Capital Increase constitutes a connected transaction of Sinopec Corp. under Chapter 14A of the Hong Kong Listing Rules. As the highest applicable percentage ratio in respect of the Capital Increase exceeds 0.1% but is less than 5%, the Capital Increase is subject to the reporting and announcement requirements, but exempt from the independent shareholders' approval requirement under Chapter 14A of the Hong Kong Listing Rules. As Sinopec-SK is a subsidiary of Sinopec Corp., the Asset Transfer did not constitute a connected transaction of Sinopec Corp. under Chapter 14A of the Hong Kong Listing Rules. In addition, as the highest applicable percentage ratio in respect of the Asset Transfer was less than 5%, it did not constitute a notifiable transaction under Chapter 14 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

 

For details, please refer to the announcements published by Sinopec Corp. in China Securities Journal, Shanghai Securities News and, Securities Times, and on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on 30 April 2019 and 9 July 2019, and on the website of Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 29 April 2019 and on 8 July 2019.

 

6    SIGNIFICANT EQUITY INVESTMENT

 

During the reporting period, there is no significant equity investment made by the Company.

 

7    SIGNIFICANT ASSETS AND EQUITY SALE

 

During the reporting period, there is no significant assets or equity sale of the Company.

 

8    MATERIAL GUARANTEE CONTRACTS AND THEIR PERFORMANCE                                                                                                      Unit: RMB million

 

Major external guarantees (excluding guarantees for controlled subsidiaries)

Guarantor

Relationship with the Company

Name of guaranteed company

Amount

Transaction date (date of signing)

Period of guarantee

Type

Whether completed or not

Whether overdue or not

Amount of overdue guarantee

Counter- guaranteed

Whether guaranteed for connected parties yes or no)*1

Sinopec Corp.

The listed company itself

Zhongtian Hechuang Energy Co., Ltd

10,140

25-May-16

25 May 2016 -31 December 2023 (the mature date is estimated)

Joint liability guarantee

No

No

-

No

Yes

Sinopec Corp.

The listed company itself

Zhong An United Coal Chemical Co., Ltd.

7,100

18-Apr-18

18 April 2018-31 December 2031

Joint liability guarantee

No

No

-

No

No

Total amount of guarantees provided during the reporting period*2

None

Total amount of guarantees outstanding at the end of reporting period*2 (A)

17,240

Guarantees by the Company to the controlled subsidiaries

Total amount of guarantee provided to controlled subsidiaries during the reporting period

None

Total amount of guarantee for controlled subsidiaries outstanding at the end of the reporting period (B)

12,157

Total amount of guarantees for the Company (including those provided for controlled subsidiaries)

Total amount of guarantees(A+B)

29,397

The proportion of the total amount of guarantees to the Sinopec Corp.'s net assets

3.98%

Guarantees provided for shareholder, de facto controller and its related parties (C)

None

Amount of debt guarantees provided directly or indirectly to the companies with liabilities to assets ratio over 70% (D)

None

The amount of guarantees in excess of 50% of the net assets (E)

None

Total amount of the above three guarantee items (C+D+E)

None

Statement of guarantee undue that might be involved in any joint and several liabilities

None

Statement of guarantee status

None

 

*1:   As defined in the Rules Governing the Listing of Stocks on Shanghai Stock Exchange.

 

*2:   The amount of guarantees provided during the reporting period and the outstanding balance of guarantees amount at the end of the reporting period include the guarantees provided by the controlled subsidiaries to external parties. The amount of the guarantees provided by these subsidiaries is derived from multiplying the guarantees provided by Sinopec Corp.'s subsidiaries by the percentage of shareholding of Sinopec Corp. in such subsidiaries.

 

9    SPECIFIC STATEMENTS AND INDEPENDENT OPINIONS FROM INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REGARDING EXTERNAL GUARANTEES PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY DURING AND BY THE END OF 2019:

We, as independent directors of Sinopec Corp., hereby make the following statements after conducting a thorough check of external guarantees provided by the Company accumulated up to and during 2019 in accordance with the requirements of the domestic regulatory authorities:

 

The external guarantees prior to 2019 had been disclosed in previous annual report. The aggregate balance of external guarantees provided by Sinopec Corp. for the year 2019 was RMB 29.4 billion, accounting for approximately 3.98% of the Company's net assets.

 

We hereby present the following opinions:

 

Sinopec Corp. shall continue to strengthen its management and actively monitor guarantee risks. It shall strictly follow the approval and disclosure procedures in relation to guarantee businesses for any new external guarantees provided thereafter.

 

10  SIGNIFICANT LITIGATION, ARBITRATION RELATING TO THE COMPANY

No significant litigation, arbitration relating to the Company occurred during the reporting period.

 

11  INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING

During the reporting period, the Company was not involved in any insolvency or restructuring matters.

 

12  OTHER MATERIAL CONTRACTS

Saved as disclosed by Sinopec Corp., the Company did not enter into any material contracts subject to disclosure obligations during the reporting period.

 

13  CREDIBILITY FOR THE COMPANY, CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDERS AND DE FACTO CONTROLLER

During the reporting period, the Company and its controlling shareholder did not have any unperformed court's effective judgments which should be performed or any large amount of debt which should be repaid.

 

14  TRUSTEESHIP, CONTRACTING AND LEASES

During the reporting period, the Company was not involved in any events relating to significant trusteeship, contracting or leases for the assets of any other company, nor has it placed its assets with any other company under a trusteeship, contracting or lease agreement subject to disclosure obligations.

 

15  DEPOSITS AT SINOPEC FINANCE CO., LTD. AND SINOPEC CENTURY BRIGHT CAPITAL INVESTMENT, LTD.

In order to regulate connected transactions between the Company and Sinopec Finance Co., Ltd. (Sinopec Corp.'s domestic settlement center, hereinafter referred as the Finance Company) and to ensure the safety and liquidity of the deposits of the Company at the Finance Company, Sinopec Corp. and the Finance Company formulated the Risk Control System on Connected Transactions between China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation and Sinopec Finance Co., Ltd., which covers the risk control system and the risk management plan of the Company to prevent financial risks and to ensure that the deposits of the Company at the Finance Company can be utilised at the Company's discretion. At the same time, as the controlling shareholder of the Finance Company, China Petrochemical Corporation undertakes that in case of an emergency when the Finance Company has difficulty in making payments, China Petrochemical Corporation will increase the capital of the Finance Company in accordance with the actual need for the purpose of making payment.

 

In order to regulate connected transactions between the Company and Sinopec Century Bright Capital Investment, Ltd. (Sinopec Corp.'s overseas settlement center, hereinafter referred at the Century Bright Company), Century Bright Company ensures the safety of the deposits of the Company at Century Bright Company by strengthening internal risk controls and obtaining support from China Petrochemical Corporation. China Petrochemical Corporation has formulated a number of internal rules, including the Rules for the Internal Control System, the Rules for Implementation of Overseas Capital Management Methods, and the Provisional Methods for Overseas Fund Platform Management, to impose strict rules on Century Bright Company for providing overseas financial services. Century Bright Company has also established the Rules for the Implementation of the Internal Control System, which ensures the standardisation and safety of its corporate deposits business. At the same time, as the wholly controlling shareholder of Century Bright Company, China Petrochemical Corporation entered into a keep-well agreement with Century Bright Company in 2013, in which China Petrochemical Corporation undertakes that when Century Bright Company has difficulty in making payments, China Petrochemical Corporation will ensure that Century Bright Company will fulfill its repayment obligation through various channels.

 

The deposits of the Company at the Finance Company and Century Bright Company during the reporting period did not exceed the relevant caps as approved at the general meeting of Sinopec Corp. During daily operations, the Company can withdraw the full amount of its deposits at the Finance Company and Century Bright Company.

 

16  APPROPRIATION OF NON-OPERATIONAL FUNDS BY THE CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER AND ITS RELATED PARTIES AND THE PROGRESS FOR CLEARING UP

Not applicable

 

17  STRUCTURED ENTITY CONTROLLED BY THE COMPANY

None

 

18  DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SHARE INCENTIVE SCHEME DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

Sinopec Corp. did not implement any share incentive scheme during the reporting period.

 

19  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SOLUTIONS OF COMPANIES AND THEIR SUBSIDIARIES AS MAJOR POLLUTANT DISCHARGING COMPANIES RECOGNIsED BY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENTS

In 2019, certain subsidiaries of Sinopec Corp. which are listed as major pollutant discharge units have disclosed environmental information as required by the relevant authorities and local government. The details of such information was published on national pollutant discharge license management information platform (http://permit.mee.gov.cn/permitExt/defaults/default-index!getInformation.action) and the local government website. Sinopec Corp. built prevention and control facilities for sewage, flue gas, solid waste and noise in accordance with the requirements of the national and local pollution prevention and environmental protection standards, kept effective and stable operation of pollution prevention and control facilities, and realised standardised discharges and emissions of sewage, flue gas, solid waste and factory noise. For details, please refer to the Company's Communication on Progress for Sustainable Development. The Company further regulated environmental management of construction projects, enhanced assessment, and implemented "three-simultaneity" management (environmental facilities shall be designed, constructed and put into operation simultaneously with the main construction). All of the newly-built projects have been obtained approvals from the environment authorities. Sinopec Corp. strictly complies with relevant national requirements on environment emergency plan management and continulysly improves the emergency plans for environmental emergencies and heavy pollution weather.

 

According to the national pollution permit and self-monitoring technology guidelines in relevant industries, we acquired discharge permit and modified the self-monitoring plan, implemented new national requirements of sewage, flue gas and noise monitory, and disclosed the environmental results. For other subsidiaries that are not listed as major pollutant discharge units, the Company also completed relevant environmental protection formalities in accordance with the national and local requirements, and implemented relevant environmental protection measures. According to the requirements of national and local ecological environment departments, these companies do not need to disclose relevant information.

 

20  POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAM LAUNCHED BY THE COMPANY

 

(1)  Targeted Poverty Alleviation Plan

The Company actively fulfilled our social responsibilities and strictly followed the fundamental principles of poverty alleviation and elimination. Combining with practical situation, we focused on poverty alleviation in terms of industry, consumption, employment and education, so as to ensure to stably lift poor household out of poverty, increase income of poor household and orderly carry out rural revival strategy.

 

(2)  Overview on 2019 Targeted Poverty Alleviations

In 2019, the Company invested nearly RMB 0.19 billion in Targeted Poverty Alleviation, including RMB 0.12 billion invested in 53 targeted poverty alleviation programs in Yingshang county, Yuexi county, Fenghuang county, Luxi county, Yuepuhu county and Dongxiang county, mainly including rural industry development, village tourism development, labor output trainings and education assistance.

 

(3)  2019 Targeted Poverty Alleviation Work Statistics

 

Unit: RMB million

 

Index	Data
I.      Overview
1.     Funds	187.44
2.     Value of goods and materials	1.76
3.     Number of people lifted out of poverty	31,003
II.     Input breakdowns
1.     Poverty elimination through industrial development
1.1  Categories of poverty alleviation programs through	√□  Poverty alleviation through agriculture and forestry development
industrial development	√□  Poverty alleviation through tourism development
	√□  Poverty alleviation through e-commerce
	√□  Poverty alleviation through assets income
	□  Poverty alleviation through science and technology development
	√□  Others
1.2  Number of poverty alleviation programs	274
1.3  Input in poverty alleviation projects through
industrial development	96.20
1.4  Number of people lifted out of poverty	41,698
2.     Poverty elimination through provision of employment
2.1  Input in professional skill training	2.65
2.2  Participants of professional skill trainings (person time)	3,015
2.3  Number of people employed	10,990
3.     Poverty elimination through relocation
3.1  Number of relocated people provided with employment	243
3.2  Input in relocation	4.35
4.     Poverty elimination through education
4.1  Input in students funding	2.19
4.2  Number of students who received funding assistance	1,955
4.3  Input in education resources in poverty-stricken areas	23.48
5.     Poverty alleviation through healthcare
5.1  Input in medical and health care resources in proverty-striken areas	2.76
6.     Poverty alleviation through ecological protection
6.1  Items	√□  Conduct ecological protection and construction
	□  Develop ways for ecological protection and compensation
	√□  Set up ecological public welfare positions
	√□  Others
6.2  Input in ecological protection	0.23
7.     Guarantee basic living standard
7.1  Input in left-behind children, women and senior people	0.59
7.2  Number of left-behind children, women and senior people assisted	433
7.3  Input in assisting the disabled	0.50
7.4  Number of the disabled helped	141
8.     Poverty alleviation through social projects
8.1  Input in coordinated poverty alleviation
8.2  Input in targeted poverty alleviation programs	123.59
8.3  Public Welfare funds for poverty alleviation	0.60
9.     Other projects
9.1  Number of projects	137
9.2  Total input	54.49
9.3  Number of people lifted out of poverty	7,152
9.4 Other

 

(4)  Subsequent targeted poverty alleviation plan

In 2020, the Company will further strengthen poverty alleviation key-problem tackling work, continue to carry on targeted poverty alleviation and targeted lifting of poor people out of poverty. The Company will focus on poverty alleviation in terms of consumption, education, industry, employment to overcome the bastion of deep poverty and maintain a stable achievement. The Company will strengthen the supervision of projects and funds, enhance risks and source management, and constantly improve the level of work, to ensure that the actual results of winning the fight against poverty.

 

21  OTHER EVENTS

Sinopec Corp. published voluntary announcement and progress update announcements in relation to China International United Petroleum and Chemical Company Limited. For details, please refer to the announcements published in China Securities Journal, Shanghai Securities News, Securities Times and the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 28 December 2018, 5 January 2019 and 26 January 2019 and on the website of Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 27 December 2018, 4 January 2019 and 25 January 2019.

 

Sinopec Corp. published indicative announcement on the restructuring of oil and gas pipeline network assets. For details, please refer to the announcements published in China Securities Journal, Shanghai Securities News, Securities Times and the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 11 December 2019 and on the website of Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 10 December 2019.

 

CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS

 

1    AGREEMENTS CONCERNING CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN SINOPEC CORP. AND CHINA PETROCHEMICAL CORPORATION

Prior to Sinopec Corp.'s overseas listing, in order to ensure the smooth continuation of production and business conducted by the Company and China Petrochemical Corporation, the two parties entered into a number of agreements on continuing connected transactions, details of which are as follows:

 

(1)  The Company and China Petrochemical Corporation will mutually supply ancillary services for products, production and construction services (Mutual Supply Agreement)

 

(2)  China Petrochemical Corporation will provide trademarks, patents and computer software to the Company for use free of charge

 

(3)  China Petrochemical Corporation will provide cultural and educational, hygienic and auxiliary services to the Company (Cultural, Educational, Hygiene and Auxiliary Services Agreement)

 

(4)  China Petrochemical Corporation will provide leasing services for lands and certain properties to the Company

 

(5)  China Petrochemical Corporation will provide comprehensive insurance to the Company

 

(6)  China Petrochemical Corporation will provide shareholders' loans to the Company; and

 

(7)  The Company will provide franchise licenses for service stations to China Petrochemical Corporation.

 

On 24 August 2018, Sinopec Corp. and China Petrochemical Corporation entered into a supplemental agreement of the continuing connected transactions and the Land Use Rights Leasing Agreement Amendment Memo, pursuant to which the scope of services of the Mutual Supply Agreement and the Cultural, Educational, Hygienic and Auxiliary Services Agreement were adjusted and the term of the Mutual Supply Agreement and the Cultural, Educational, Hygienic and Auxiliary Services Agreement was extended from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021; the term of the Properties Leasing Agreement was extended to 31 December 2021 and the term of Intellectual Property Licensing Agreements was extended to 31 December 2029. The area and rent in the Land Use Rights Leasing Agreement were also adjusted. The resolution relating to continuing connected transactions for the three years from 2019 to 2021 was approved at the first extraordinary general meeting of Sinopec Corp. for 2018 held on 23 October 2018. For details of the above continuing connected transactions, please refer to relevant announcements published on 27 August 2018 in the China Securities Journal, the Shanghai Securities News and the Securities Times and on the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange dated 26 August 2018. The capitalised terms used in this section shall have the same meaning as that used in the above-mentioned announcements.

 

2    COMPLIANCE OF DISCLOSURE AND APPROVALS OF CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND SINOPEC GROUP WITH HONG KONG LISTING RULES AND THE SHANGHAI LISTING RULES

Pursuant to the Hong Kong Listing Rules and the Shanghai Listing Rules, the continuing connected transactions between the Company and Sinopec Group are subject to disclosure, independent non-executive directors' approval and/or independent shareholders' approval (if needed) based on the nature and the value of the transactions. Sinopec Corp. has fully complied with the above requirements in relation to the continuing connected transaction between the Company and Sinopec Group.

 

The aggregated amount of the continuing connected transactions for 2019 of the Company is in compliance with the relevant requirements of the Hong Kong Listing Rules and the Shanghai Listing Rules. For performance details of connected transaction agreements, please refer to Item 3 below.

 

3    ACTUAL CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO BY THE COMPANY DURING THE YEAR

Pursuant to the above-mentioned agreements on continuing connected transactions, the aggregate amount of the continuing connected transactions of the Company during the reporting period was RMB 447.608 billion. Among which, purchases expenses amounted to RMB 286.769 billion, representing 9.45% of the total amount of this type of transaction for the reporting period, including purchases of products and services (procurement, storage and transportation, exploration and development services, and production-related services) of RMB 270.499 billion, purchases of auxiliary and community services of RMB 3.097 billion, payment of property rent of RMB 509 million, payment of land use right of RMB 11.330 billion, and the interest expenses amounted to RMB 1.334 billion. The sales income amounted to RMB 160.839 billion, representing 5.17% of the total amount of this type of transaction for the reporting period, including RMB 159.681 billion for sales of products and services, RMB 92 million for agency commission income, and RMB 1,066 million for interest income.

 

The amounts of the above continuing connected transactions between the Company and Sinopec Group did not exceed the relevant caps for the continuing connected transactions as approved by the general meeting of shareholders and the Board.

 

Principle of pricing for the continuing connected transactions:

 

(a)  The government-prescribed price will apply;

 

(b)  where there is no government-prescribed price but where there is a government-guidance price, the government-guidance price will apply;

 

(c)   where there is neither a government-prescribed price nor a government-guidance price, the market price will apply; or

 

(d)  where none of the above is applicable, the price for the provision of the products or services is to be agreed between the relevant parties, which shall be the reasonable cost incurred in providing the same plus 6% or less of such cost.

 

For details of the pricing principle, please refer to relevant announcements published on 27 August 2018 in the China Securities Journal, the Shanghai Securities News and the Securities Times and on the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 26 August 2018.

 

Decision-making procedures:

 

The continuing connected transaction agreements were entered into in the ordinary course of the Company's business and in accordance with normal commercial terms that are fair and reasonable to the Company and its shareholders. The Company, according to its internal control procedures, adjusts the scope and the relevant caps of continuing connected transactions every three years, and will announce and implement upon the approval of the Board and/or independent shareholders. For the other connected transactions, Sinopec Corp., in strict compliance with domestic and overseas regulatory rules, will publish the announcement and implement the transactions only after submitting the relevant proposals of connected transactions to the Board and/or the general meeting of shareholders for consideration and approval according to internal control procedures.

 

Related party transactions with the Sinopec Group that occurred during the year, as set out in Note 38 to the financial statements prepared under the IFRS in this annual report, also fall under the definition of connected transactions under Chapter 14A of the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

 

The above-mentioned connected transactions between the Company and Sinopec Group in 2019 were approved at the 12th meeting of the seventh session of the Board and have complied with the requirements under Chapter 14A of the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

 

The external auditor of Sinopec Corp. was engaged to report on the Company's continuing connected transactions in accordance with the Hong Kong Standard on Assurance Engagements 3000, Assurance Engagement Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information, and with reference to Practice Note 740, Auditor's Letter on Continuing Connected Transactions under the Hong Kong Listing Rules, issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The auditor has issued its unqualified letter containing its conclusions in respect of the above-mentioned continuing connected transactions in accordance with Rule 14A.56 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules. Sinopec Corp. has submitted a copy of the auditor's letter to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

 

After reviewing the above-mentioned connected transactions, the independent non-executive directors of Sinopec Corp. have confirmed the following:

 

(a)  The transactions have been conducted in the ordinary course of the Company's business;

 

(b)  The transactions have been entered into based on either of the following terms:

 

i       normal commercial terms; or

 

ii      terms not less favorable than those available from or to independent third parties, where there is no available comparison to determine whether such terms are on normal commercial terms; and

 

(c)   The transactions were conducted pursuant to the terms of relevant agreements, and the terms were fair and reasonable and in the interests of Sinopec Corp. and its shareholders as a whole.

 

4    OTHER SIGNIFICANT CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS OCCURED THIS YEAR

For details, please refer to item 5 "Capital Increase and Assets Transfer to SIONOPEC-SK (Wuhan) Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (SINOPEC-SK)" in section "Significant Events".

 

5    FUNDS PROVIDED BETWEEN RELATED PARTIES

 

Unit: RMB million

 

		Funds to related parties			Funds from related parties
Related Parties	Relations	Balance at the beginning of the year	Amount incurred	Balance at the end of the year	Balance at the beginning of the year	Amount incurred	Balance at the end of the year
Sinopec Group	Parent company and  affiliated companies*	29,415	(18,648)	10,767	30,232	(14,496)	15,736
Other related parties	Associates and joint ventures	1,431	307	1,738	333	59	392
Total		30,846	(18,341)	12,505	30,565	(14,437)	16,128
Reason for provision of funds between related parties		Loans and other accounts receivable and payable
Impacts on the Company		No material negative impact

 

*:      affiliated companies include subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

1    IMPROVEMENTS IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

During the reporting period, Sinopec Corp. committed itself to comply with the Articles of Association as well as domestic and overseas laws and regulations, and continuously improving its corporate governance. It timely amended the Articles of Association and the internal control procedures, and implemented the campaign of promoting the execution effectiveness of internal control with good results. The role of independent directors is well played. It also completed the information disclosure with high quality and further strengthened investor relations work to promote enterprise value. Its sustainable development achieved positive results and earned social recognition. It carried out campaign themed "staying true to our founding mission", completed related work in exercising full and rigorous governance over the Party and implemented the campaign of "talents strengthening enterprise". All the aforesaid work has promoted the company's high-quality development.

 

During the reporting period, there is no material inconsistency between Sinopec Corp.'s corporate governance and the requirements of the PRC Company Law and relevant regulations of the CSRC. The Board of Supervisors of Sinopec Corp. agreed with all supervised matters. None of Sinopec Corp., the Board, directors, supervisors, senior management, controlling shareholders or de facto controllers of Sinopec Corp. were under the investigation by the CSRC or received any regulatory sanction or criticised publicly by the CSRC, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States, or received any public censure from Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange.

 

2    GENERAL MEETINGS

During the reporting period, Sinopec Corp. convened the 2018 annual general meeting on 9 May 2019 in Beijing, China in accordance with the required procedures of noticing, convening and holding procedures pursuant to the relevant laws and regulations and the Articles of Association. For meeting details, please refer to the poll results announcements published in China Securities Journal, Shanghai Securities News and Securities Times on 10 May 2019 and on the websites of Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 9 May 2019.

 

3    EQUITY INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS AND OTHER SENIOR MANAGEMENT

As of 31 December 2019, apart from 13,000 A shares of Sinopec Corp. held by Director, Senior Vice President Mr. Ling Yiqun, none of the directors, supervisors or other senior management of Sinopec Corp. held any shares of Sinopec Corp.

 

Save as disclosed above, during the reporting period, none of the directors, supervisors and senior management of Sinopec Corp. and their associates had any interests or short positions (including any interest or short position that is regarded or treated as being held in accordance with the SFO) in the shares, debentures and underlying shares of Sinopec Corp. or any associated corporations (as defined in Part XV of SFO) would fall to be disclosed to the Sinopec Corp. and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the Division 7 and 8 of Part XV of SFO or which was recorded in the register required to be kept under section 352 of SFO or otherwise should notify Sinopec Corp. or the Hong Kong Stock Exchange pursuant to the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of Listed Company under the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

 

4    PERFORMANCE OF THE INDEPENDENT non-executive DIRECTORS

During the reporting period, the Independent Non-Executive Directors of Sinopec Corp. fulfilled their duties in good faith as required by Terms of Reference of the Independent Non-Executive Directors, and actively contributed to the development of the Company. They actively attended Board meetings and meetings of the Board Committees (please refer to the section "Report of the Board of Directors" in this annual report for details of their attendance), exercised their profession advantages to offer advice and suggestions to Sinopec Corp.'s development strategy, operations and reform, and promoted the company's scientific decision-making. The independent non-executive directors maintained timely and effective communications with management, external auditors and the internal auditing department, gave their independent opinions on matters such as connected transactions and dividend distribution, and protected the legitimate interests of the minority shareholders' interests.

 

Pursuant to requirements of securities regulatory authority of China, Independent Non-Executive Directors of Sinopec Corp. reviewed the performance of the senior managers of Sinopec Corp. who held concurrent positions as senior managers in China Petrochemical Corporation and published independent opinions as follows: "The President Mr. Ma Yongsheng, Senior Vice President Mr. Ling Yiqun and Mr. Liu Zhongyun, each of whom concurrently held position as senior management of China Petrochemical Corporation, have obtained the exemptions for holding concurrent position from CSRC. During the reporting period, Mr. Ma Yongsheng, Mr. Ling Yiqun and Mr. Liu Zhongyun devoted sufficient time and energy to fulfil their duties with diligence and due care. They protected the interests of the Company and minority shareholders effectively and didn't harm the legitimate interests of Sinopec Corp. and minority shareholders due to holding concurrent position in China Petrochemical Corporation."

 

5    COMPANY'S INDEPENDENCE FROM CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER

The Company is independent from its controlling shareholder in terms of, among other matters, business, assets and finances. The Company has a well-integrated independent business and independent operational capabilities.

 

6    COMPETITION BETWEEN SINOPEC CORP AND ITS CONTROLLING SHAREHOLDER

Please refer to "Performance of Undertaking by China Petrochemical Corporation" under the section "Significant Events" in this annual report for details.

 

7    IMPROVEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM

For details of internal control self-assessment and internal control auditing, please refer to the internal control assessment report and the internal control auditing report disclosed by the Company on the same date of this annual report.

 

8    SENIOR MANAGEMENT APPRAISAL AND INCENTIVE SCHEMES

Sinopec Corp. has established and is continuously improving the fairness and transparency of its performance appraisal standards, incentive schemes and requirements for directors, supervisors and other senior management. Sinopec Corp. has implemented a number of incentive policies, including the Measures of Sinopec Corp. for the Implementation of Remuneration for Senior Managers and the Measures of Sinopec Corp. for the Management of Performance Evaluations.

 

9    CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT (IN ACCORDANCE WITH HONG KONG LISTING RULES)

 

(1)  Compliance with the Corporate Governance Code

Sinopec Corp. complied with all code provisions set out in the Corporate Governance Code during the reporting period.

 

A   Board of Directors

 

A.1 Board of Directors

a.     The Board is the decision-making body of Sinopec Corp. and abides by good corporate governance practices and procedures. All decisions made by the Board are implemented by the Management of Sinopec Corp.

 

b.     The meeting of the Board is held at least once a quarter. The Board will usually communicate the time and proposals of the Board meeting 14 days before convening of the meeting. The relevant documents and materials for Board meetings are usually sent to each Director 10 days in advance. In 2019, Sinopec Corp. held four Board meetings. For details about each Director's attendance at the Board meetings and the general meetings, please refer to the section "Report of the Board of Directors" in this annual report.

 

c.      Each Director of the Board can submit proposals to be included in the agenda of Board meetings, and each Director is entitled to request other related information.

 

d.     The Board has reviewed and evaluated its performance in 2018 and is of the view that the Board made decisions in compliance with domestic and overseas regulatory authorities' requirements and the Company's internal rules; that the Board have considered the suggestions from the Party organisation, Board of Supervisors and Management during its decision making process; and that the Board safeguarded the rights and interests of Sinopec Corp. and its shareholders.

 

e.     The Secretary to the Board assists the Directors in handling the daily work of the Board, continuously informs the Directors of any regulations, policies or other requirements of domestic or overseas regulatory authorities in relation to corporate governance and ensures that the Directors comply with domestic and overseas laws and regulations when performing their duties and responsibilities. Sinopec Corp. has purchased liability insurance for all Directors to minimise their risks that might incur from the performance of their duties.

 

A.2 Chairman and President

a.     The Chairman of the Board is elected by a majority vote of all Directors, and the President is nominated and appointed by the Board. The main duties and responsibilities of the Chairman and the President are clearly distinguished from each other, and the scope of their respective duties and responsibilities are set out in the Articles of Association. Mr. Zhang Yuzhuo serves as Chairman of the Board and Mr. Ma Yongsheng serves as President of Sinopec Corp.

 

b.     The Chairman of the Board places great emphasis on communication with the Independent Non-executive Directors. The Chairman independently held two meetings with the Independent Non-executive Directors in respect of development strategy, corporate governance and operational management, etc. of the Company.

 

c.      The Chairman encourages open and active discussions. Directors actively and deeply participated in the discussions of significant decisions made by the Board in the Board meetings.

 

A.3 Board composition

a.     For details of the composition of the Board of Directors, please refer to the section "Directors, Supervisors, Other Senior Management and Employees" of this annual report.

 

b.     Sinopec Corp. has received from each of the Independent Non-executive directors a letter of confirmation for 2019 regarding their compliance with relevant independence requirements set out in Rule 3.13 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules. Sinopec Corp. considers that each of the Independent Non-executive Directors is independent.

 

A.4 Appointment, re-election and dismissal

a.     During the reporting period, the Board of Directors has not nominated any new director according to the actual situation of Sinopec Corp., and no re-election and dismissal of directors occurred. For details about the tenure of each director, please refer to the section "Directors, Supervisors, Other Senior Management and Employees"

 

b.     All Directors of Sinopec Corp. have been elected at the general meeting of shareholders. The Board has no power to appoint temporary Directors.

 

c.      Sinopec Corp. engages professional consultants to prepare detailed materials for newly elected Directors, to notify them of the regulations of each listing place of Sinopec Corp. and to remind them of their rights, responsibilities and obligations as Directors.

 

A.5 Nomination Committee

a.     The Board of Sinopec Corp. established Nomination Committee, consisting of Chairman of the Board, Mr. Zhang Yuzhuo, who serves as the Chairman, and Independent Non-Executive Directors Mr. Tang Min and Mr. Ng, Kar Ling Johnny, who serve as members. The major responsibilities of Nomination Committee are to provide suggestion on Board's size and composition, as well as the selecting standards, procedures and candidates for directors and senior management. Procedures to Propose a Person for Election as a Director of Sinopec Corp. is published on the Sinopec Corp.'s website at http://www.sinopec.com/.

 

b.     The Board establishes the Board Diversity Policy which stipulates that the members of the Board shall be nominated and appointed based on the skills and experience for the overall optimum operation of the Board, while taking into account the targets and requirements of the board diversity. When deciding the composition of the Board, Sinopec Corp. shall consider several factors in relation to the diversity of the Board, including but not limited to profession experience, skills, knowledge, length of service, regions, cultural and educational backgrounds, gender and age. Pursuant to Articles of Association, the term of each session of the Directors of Sinopec Corp. is three years, and the consecutive term of office of an independent non-executive director cannot exceed six years, which help to ensure that the Board of Directors has a proper balance between continuous experience and new thinking, and enhance the level of diversity. Sinopec Corp. focuses on the implementation of the Board Diversity Policy. The Directors come from different industries at home and abroad, and have rich work experience. Professional backgrounds of Directors include petroleum and petrochemical, as well as economics, accounting and finance, which are conductive to scientific decision-making.

 

c.      The members of the Nomination Committee can engage professions when performing its duties. Reasonable costs arising from such consultations are borne by Sinopec Corp. In the meantime, the Nomination Committee has also appointed consultants member and can require such member to provide advice. The working expenses of the Remuneration Committee are included in the budget of Sinopec Corp.

 

A.6 Responsibility of Directors

a.     All Non-executive Directors have the same duties and powers as the Executive Directors. In addition, the Independent Non-executive Directors are entitled to certain specific powers. The Articles of Association and the Rules of Procedure of Board Meetings clearly prescribe the duties and powers of Directors, Non-executive Directors including Independent Non-executive Directors, which are published on the Sinopec Corp.'s website at http://www.sinopec.com/

 

b.     Each of the Directors was able to devote sufficient time and efforts to handling the matters of Sinopec Corp.

 

c.      Each of the Directors confirmed that he has complied with the Model Code for Securities and Transactions by Directors of Listed Companies during the reporting period. In addition, Sinopec Corp. formulated the Rules Governing Shares Held by Company Directors, Supervisors and Senior Managers and Changes in Shares and the Model Code of Securities Transactions by Company Employees to regulate the purchase and sale of Sinopec Corp.'s securities by relevant personnel.

 

d.     Sinopec Corp. organised and arranged training sessions for Directors and paid the relevant fees as well as making relevant records. The Directors actively participated in the trainings and paid more attention on continuing professional development program to ensure that their contribution to the Board remains informed and relevant.

 

A.7 Provision of and access to information

a.     The agenda and other reference documents for meetings of the Board and Board committees will be distributed prior to the meetings to give each Director sufficient time to review the materials so that Directors can make informed decisions.

 

b.     Each Director can obtain all related information in a comprehensive and timely manner. The Secretary to the Board is responsible for organising and preparing the materials for the Board meetings, including preparation of explanations for each proposal to ensure fully understanding by the Directors. The Management is responsible for providing the Directors with necessary information and materials. The Director may require the Management, or require, via the Management, relevant departments to provide necessary information or explanations. The Directors may seek advices from professional consultants when necessary.

 

B   Remuneration and Appraisal Committee

a.     Remuneration and Appraisal Committee (Remuneration Committee) consists of Independent Non-executive Director Mr. Fan Gang, who serves as the Chairman, and Executive Director Mr. Ma Yongsheng and Independent Non-executive Director Mr. Ng, Kar Ling Johnny, who serve as the members of the Remuneration Committee. The Remuneration Committee is responsible for reviewing the implementation of the annual remuneration plans for Directors, Supervisors and other senior Management as approved at the general meeting of the shareholders, and report to the Board.

 

b.     The Remuneration Committee always consults the Chairman of the Board and the President about the remuneration plans for other Executive Directors. After the Remuneration Committee's review, it is of the view that all the Executive Directors of Sinopec Corp. have fulfilled the duty clauses in their service contracts in 2019.

 

c.      The members of the Remuneration Committee can engage independent professionals when performing its duties. Reasonable costs arising from such consultations are borne by Sinopec Corp. In the meantime, the Remuneration Committee has also appointed consultants member and can require such member to provide advices. The working expenses of the Remuneration Committee are included in the budget of Sinopec Corp. According to the policies of Sinopec Corp., the senior Management and relevant departments of Sinopec Corp. must actively cooperate with the Remuneration Committee.

 

d.     During the reporting period, the Remuneration Committee held one meeting (please refer to "Meetings held by the special committees of the Board" under the section of "Report of the Board of Directors" in this annual report).

 

C   Accountability and Auditing

 

C.1 Financial reporting

a.     Directors are responsible for supervising the preparation of accounts for each fiscal period to ensure that the accounts truly and fairly reflect the condition of the business, the performance and the cash flow of the Company during the period. The Board approved the Financial Report for 2019 and warranted that the annual report contained no false representations, no material omissions or misleading statements and jointly and severally accepted full responsibility for the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of the content.

 

b.     Sinopec Corp. provides Directors with information about the financial, production and operating data of the Company every month to ensure that the Directors can learn about the latest developments of the Company in a timely manner.

 

c.      Sinopec Corp. has adopted an internal control mechanism to ensure that the Management and relevant departments have provided the Board and the Audit Committee with sufficient financial data and related explanations and materials.

 

d.     The external auditors of Sinopec Corp. made a statement on their reporting responsibilities in the auditor's report contained in the financial report.

 

C.2 Internal Control and Risk Management

a.     Sinopec Corp. has formulated and implemented its internal control and risk management system. The Board as a decision-making body is responsible for evaluating and review the effectiveness of its internal control and risk management. The Board and Audit Committee periodically (at least annually) receive reports of the Company regarding internal control and risk management information from the Management. All major internal control and risk management issues are reported to the Board and Audit Committee. Sinopec Corp. has set up its internal control and risk management department and internal auditing departments, which are equipped with sufficient staff, and these departments periodically (at least twice per year) report to the Audit Committee. The internal control and risk management system of the Company are designed to manage rather than eliminate all the risks of the Company.

 

b.     In terms of internal control, Sinopec Corp. adopted the internal control framework prescribed in the internationally accepted Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the Treadway Commission Report (COSO). Based upon the Articles of Association and the applicable management policies currently in effect, as well as in accordance with relevant domestic and overseas applicable regulations, Sinopec Corp. formulated and continuously improves the Internal Control Manual to achieve internal control of all factors of internal environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and internal supervision. At the same time, Sinopec Corp. has constantly supervised and evaluated its internal control, and conducted comprehensive and multi-level inspections including regular test, enterprise self-examination and auditing check, and included headquarters, branches and subsidiaries into the scope of internal control evaluation, with an internal control evaluation report being produced. The Board annually reviews the internal control evaluation report. For detailed information about the internal control during the reporting period, please refer to the report on internal control evaluation prepared by Sinopec Corp.

 

Sinopec Corp. has formulated and implemented its information disclosure policy and insider information registration policy. The Company regularly evaluates the policy implementation and makes disclosure in accordance with relevant regulations. Please refer to the website of Sinopec Corp. (http://www.sinopec.com/) for the details of the information disclosure policy.

 

c.      In terms of risk management, Sinopec Corp. adopted the enterprise risk management framework provided by COSO, and established its risk management policy and risk management organisation system. The Company annually conducts risk evaluation to identify major and important risks and perform risk management duties. It has designed major and important risks tackling measures combined with its internal control system and periodically monitor their implementation to ensure adequate care, monitor and tackling of major risks.

 

d.     Based upon the review and evaluation of internal control and risk management of the reporting period, the Board is of the view that the internal control and risk management of the Company are effective.

 

C.3 Audit Committee

a.     The Board has established an Audit Committee. The Audit Committee consists of Independent Non-executive Director Mr. Ng, Kar Ling Johnny, who serves as the Chairman, and Independent Non-executive Director Mr. Tang Min and Independent Non-executive Director Mr. Cai Hongbin, who serve as members. As verified, none of them has served as a partner or a former partner in our current auditing firm.

 

b.     During the reporting period, the Audit Committee held four meetings (please refer to the "Meetings held by the special committees of the Board" under the section of "Report of the Board of Directors" in this annual report). The review opinions were issued at each meeting and submitted to the Board. During the reporting period, the Board and the Audit Committee had no disagreement.

 

c.      Audit Committee members can engage independent professionals when performing its duties. Reasonable costs arising from such consultations are borne by Sinopec Corp. In the meantime, the Audit Committee has appointed consultants members and can request such member to provide advices. The working expenses of the Audit Committee are included in the budget of Sinopec Corp. In accordance with the policies of Sinopec Corp., the Senior Management and relevant departments of Sinopec Corp. shall actively cooperate with the Audit Committee.

 

d.     The Audit Committee has reviewed the adequacy and sufficiency of the resources for accounting and financial reporting and the qualifications and experience of the relevant employees as well as the sufficiency of the training courses provided to relevant employees. Audit Committee is of the view that the Management has fulfilled the duties to establish an effective internal control system. The Company established a whistle-blowing policy in its internal control system, providing several channels as online reporting, letter reporting, receipt of appeals and a complaint mailbox, etc. to employees to report behavior that violates the internal control system of the Company. The Audit Committee has reviewed and approved such policy.

 

D   Delegation of power by the Board

a.     The Board and the Management have clear duties and responsibilities in written rules. The Articles of Association and the Rules of Procedure for the General Meetings of Shareholders and the Rules of Procedure of the Board Meetings clearly set forth the scope of duties, powers and delegation of power of the Board and Management, which are published on the website of Sinopec Corp. at http://www.sinopec.com/.

 

b.     In addition to the Audit Committee, the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee, the Board had established the Strategy Committee and the Social Responsibility Management Committee. The Strategy Committee is responsible for overseeing long-term development strategies and significant investment decisions of the Company. The 7th session of Strategy Committee consists of five directors, including Chairman of the Board Mr. Zhang Yuzhuo, who serves as Chairman, as well as Executive Directors Mr. Ma Yongsheng, Mr. Ling Yiqun and Independent Non-executive Directors Mr. Fan Gang and Mr. Cai Hongbin, who serve as members. The Social Responsibility Management is responsible for preparing policies, governance, strategies and plans for social responsibility management of the Company. The Social Responsibility Management Committee consists of three Directors, including Chairman of the Board Mr. Zhang Yuzhuo, who serves as Chairman, Independent Non-executive Directors Mr. Tang Min and Mr. Fan Gang, who serve as members.

 

c.      Each Board Committee is required to report its decisions and recommendations to the Board and has formulated its terms of references. The terms of reference of the Audit Committee, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee are published on the website of Sinopec Corp. at http://www.sinopec.com/.

 

E   Investor Relations

a.     According to the actual situation of Sinopec Corp., as approved at the annual general meeting of shareholders for the year 2018, Sinopec Corp. amended the Articles of Association. For more details, please refer to the announcement published in the China Securities Journal, the Shanghai Securities News and the Securities Times by Sinopec Corp. as well as on the website of Shanghai Stock Exchange on 10 May 2019 and the announcement published on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 9 May 2019.

 

b.     Sinopec Corp. pays high attention to investor relations. The team led by management conduct road shows every year to answer questions on subjects of concern to investors, such as introduction of the development strategies and the production and business performance of the Company. Sinopec Corp. established a department responsible for communicating with investors. In compliance with regulatory provisions, Sinopec Corp. enhanced communication with investors by holding meetings with institutional investors, setting up an investor hotline and communicating through internet platform.

 

c.      During the reporting period, separate resolution was proposed for each substantially separate issue at the general meetings. All resolutions were voted by poll to ensure the interests of all shareholders. Notices of the general meeting were dispatched to shareholders 45 days (excluding the date of the general meeting) in advance.

 

d.     The Chairman of the Board hosted the annual general meeting for the year 2018. Some members of the Board of Directors and Board of Supervisors and senior Management attended the meeting and communicated with the investors extensively.

 

e.     According to relevant rules of Sinopec Corp., the Secretary to the Board is responsible for establishing an effective communication channel between Sinopec Corp. and its shareholders, for setting up special departments to communicate with the shareholders and for passing the opinions and proposals of the shareholders to the Board and Management in a timely manner. Contact details of Sinopec Corp. can be found on the Investor Center page on Sinopec Corp's website.

 

F    Company Secretary

a.     The Hong Kong Stock Exchange recognised the Secretary to the Board as having the relevant qualifications as company Secretary. Nominated by the Chairman of the Board and appointed by the Board, the Secretary to the Board is a Senior Management Officer of Sinopec Corp. and responsible for the Company and the Board. The Secretary gives opinions on corporate governance to the Board and arranges orientation training and professional development for the Directors.

 

b.     During the reporting period, the Secretary to the Board actively participated in career development training with more than 15 training hours.

 

G   Shareholders' rights

a.     Shareholders who individually or collectively hold 10% of the total voting shares of Sinopec Corp. may request the Board in writing to convene the general meeting of shareholders. If the Board fails to approve the request to convene the meeting according to the Rules of Procedure for General Meetings of Shareholders, the shareholders may convene and hold the meeting at their discretion according to applicable laws, and reasonable expenses incurred will be borne by Sinopec Corp. These provisions are subject to the following conditions: the proposals at the general meeting of shareholders must fall within the responsibilities of the general meeting of shareholders, with specific proposals and resolutions and in compliance with relevant laws, administrative regulations and the Articles of Association.

 

b.     When Sinopec Corp. holds the general meeting of shareholders, shareholders who individually or collectively hold 3% of the total voting shares of Sinopec Corp. may propose a supplemental proposal 10 days before the date of the general meeting.

 

c.      The eligibility for attending the general meeting, the rights of shareholders, the resolutions at the meeting and the voting procedures are clearly stated in the notice of the general meeting of Sinopec Corp. dispatched to the shareholders.

 

d.     Sinopec Corp. established special organisation in charge of communication with shareholders and published relevant contact details to facilitate shareholders to make enquiries pursuant to Articles of Association.

 

(2)  Auditors

The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers as Sinopec Corp.'s external auditors for 2019 and the authorisation of the Board to determine their remuneration were approved at Sinopec Corp.'s annual general meeting for the year 2018 on 9 May 2019. The audit fee for 2019 is RMB 47.48 million (including audit fee of internal control), which was approved at the 12th meeting of the seventh session of the Board. The annual financial statements have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Chinese certified accountants signing the report are Zhao Jianrong and Gao Peng from PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP.

 

During the reporting period, neither PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP nor PricewaterhouseCoopers provided any non-audit service to the Company.

 

(3)  Other information about Sinopec Corp.'s corporate governance

Except for their working relationships with Sinopec Corp., none of the Directors, Supervisors or other Senior Management has any financial, business or family relationship or any relationship in other material aspects with one another. For information about changes in share capital and shareholdings of substantial shareholders, please refer to page 6 to page 7; for information about meetings of the Board, please refer to page 50; for information about meetings held by Board Committees, please refer to page 52; for information about tenure of non-executive directors, please refer to page 64; for information about equity interests of Directors, Supervisors and other senior Management, please refer to page 43; for information about the biographies and annual remuneration of Directors, Supervisors and other senior Management, please refer to page 60 to page 74.

 

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board is pleased to present the directors' report for the year ended 31 December 2019 for shareholders' review.

 

1    MEETINGS OF THE BOARD

During this reporting period, Sinopec Corp. held four (4) Board meetings. The details are as follows:

 

(1)  The 5th meeting of the seventh session of the Board was held by on site meeting and via video conference on 22 March 2019, whereby the proposals in relation to the following matters were approved: (i)the Work Report of the Board for the year 2018, (ii) the business performance of 2018 and work plan of 2019,(iii) Financial results and business performance of the Company for the year 2018(including A.provision for impairment for the year 2018; B. The connected transactions for the year 2018; C. Profit distribution plan for the year 2018; D. Audit costs for the year 2018; E. the report of Risk Assessment for Capital Deposits at Finance Company and Century Bright Company,), (iv) 2018 Communication on Progress for Sustainable Development Report of Sinopec Corp., (v) Financial Statements of Sinopec Corp. for the year 2018, (vi) Annual Report and form 20F of the Company for the year 2018, (vii) Internal control assessment report of Sinopec Corp. for the year 2018, and the internal control manual (2019) (viii)Re-appointment of external auditors of Sinopec Corp. for the year of 2019 and to authorise the Board to determine their remunerations, (ix) the amendments to the articles of association of Sinopec Corp. (x) to authorize the Board to determine the interim profit distribution plan of Sinopec Corp. for the year 2019 (xi) Authorising the Board to determine the proposed plan for issuance of debt financing instrument(s) (xii) Granting to the Board a general mandate to issue new domestic shares and/or overseas-listed foreign shares of Sinopec Corp., (xiii) Convening the annual general meeting of Sinopec Corp. for the year 2018 and to dispatch the notice of the annual general meeting.

 

(2)  The 6th meeting of the seventh session of the Board was held by written resolution on 29 April 2019, whereby the proposals in relation to the following matters were approved: (i)first quarterly results of Sinopec Corp. for the three months ended 31 March 2019 was approved at the meeting. (ii) the capital increase and assets transfer to Sinopec-SK.

 

(3)  The 7th meeting of the seventh session of the Board was held by on site meeting and via video conference on 23 August 2019, whereby the proposals in relation to the following matters were approved: (i) the report on the fulfillment of the key targets for the first half of the year 2019 and the work arrangements for the second half of the year 2019, (ii) Financial results and business performance of the Company for the first half of the year 2019 (including a.the 2019 interim dividend distribution plan, b. the report of Risk Assessment for Capital Deposits at Finance Company and Century Bright Company), (iii) the financial statements for the first half the year 2019, (iv) interim report for the 6 months ended 30 June 2019, (v) Three years rolling development plan of Sinopec Corp. (2019 to 2021).

 

(4)  The 8th meeting of the seventh session of the Board was held by written resolution on 30 October 2019, whereby the proposal in relation to the third quarterly results of Sinopec Corp. for the nine months ended 30 September 2019 was approved.

 

For details of each meeting, please refer to the announcements published in China Securities Journal, Shanghai Securities News and Securities Times on the next working day after each meeting and on the websites of Shanghai Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Sinopec Corp.

 

2    IMPLEMENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS APPROVED AT THE GENERAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS BY THE BOARD

During this reporting period, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations as well as the articles of association, all members of the Board diligently implemented the resolutions approved at the general meetings of Sinopec Corp., and have completed various tasks delegated to them at the general meetings

 

3    DIRECTORS' ATTENDANCE TO THE BOARD MEETINGS AND TO THE GENERAL MEETINGS.

 

(1)  Directors attendance to the board meeting and general meeting during this reporting period

 

Director Titles	Names	Board Meetings					General Meetings.
		No. of	Actual	Attended By	Attended	Absent	No. of	Actual
		meeting held	Attendance	communication	by proxy		meeting held	Attendance
Director	Ma Yongsheng	4	2	2	0	0	1	1
Director	Yu Baocai	4	2	2	0	0	1	1
Director	Ling Yiqun	4	2	2	0	0	1	0
Director	Li Yong	4	1	2	1	0	1	1
Independent Director	Tang Min	4	2	2	0	0	1	0
Independent Director	Fan Gang	4	2	2	0	0	1	0
Independent Director	Cai Hongbin	4	2	2	0	0	1	0
Independent Director	Ng, Kar Ling Johnny	4	2	2	0	0	1	0

 

(2)  Former directors attendance to the board meetings during this reporting period

 

Director Titles	Names	Board Meetings					General Meetings.
		No. of	Actual	Attended By	Attended	Absent	No. of	Actual
		meeting held	Attendance	communication	by proxy		meeting held	Attendance
Former Chairman	Dai Houliang	4	2	2	0	0	1	1
Former Director	Li Yunpeng	4	2	2	0	0	1	0
Former Director	Liu Zhongyun	4	1	2	1	0	1	1

 

1.     No directors were absent from two consecutive meetings of the Board.

2.     Mr. Liu Zhongyun resigned as a director of the Board on 9 December 2019.

3.     Mr. Dai Houliang resigned as the Chairman, director of the Board on 19 January 2020.

4.     Mr. Li Yunpeng resigned as a director of the Board on 24 March 2020.

 

(3)  The Independent Director's attendance to the General Meetings.

 

During the reporting period, none of the Independent Non-executive Directors had attended the general meetings of shareholders in person due to official duties.

 

4    MEETINGS HELD BY THE BOARD COMMITTEES

During the reporting period, the board committees held eight(8) meetings, Audit Committee held four (4) meetings. Strategy Committee held two (2) meetings, the Remuneration Committee held one (1) meeting, the Social Responsibility Management Committee held one (1) meeting. All members of each committee had attended the relevant meetings. Details of those meetings are as follows:

 

(1)  The 4th meeting of the seventh session of the Audit Committee was held by on site meeting and via video conference on 20 March 2019, whereby the following matters were approved in the meeting: (i) Annual Report and 20F of 2018；(ii)Financial results and business performance of the Company for the year 2018(including A. provision for impairment for the year 2018; B. The connected transactions for the year 2018; C. Profit distribution plan for the year 2018; D. Audit costs for the year 2018; E. the report of Risk Assessment for Capital Deposits at Finance Company and Century Bright Company,); (iii) Internal control assessment report of the Company for the year 2018 and the internal control manual (2019) (iv) Work report on the internal auditing work for the year 2018; (v) Reports on the auditing of the financial statements for the year 2018 prepared by the domestic and overseas auditors.

 

(2)  The 5th meeting of the seventh session of the Audit Committee was held by written resolution on 29 April 2019,whereby the proposals in relation to the following matters were approved: (i)first quarterly results of Sinopec Corp. for the three months ended 31 March 2019 was approved at the meeting. (ii)the capital increase and assets transfer to SINOPEC-SK.

 

(3)  The 6th meeting of the seventh session of the Audit Committee was held by on site meeting on 21 August 2019, whereby (i) the financial statements for the first half year of 2019 (ii) the interim report for the first half of 2019,(iii) Financial results and business performance of the Company for the first half of the year 2019(including a.the 2019 interim dividend distribution plan, b. the report of Risk Assessment for Capital Deposits at Finance Company and Century Bright Company) (iv) the reports on internal auditing work for the first half of 2019 were approved at the meeting.

 

(4)  The 7th meeting of the seventh session of the Audit Committee was held by written resolution on 29 October 2019, whereby the third quarterly report for nine months ended 30 September 2019 was approved at the meeting.

 

(5)  The 2nd meeting of the seventh session of the Strategy Committee was held by written resolution on 20 March 2019, whereby the proposal in relation to the plan of investments of 2019 of Sinopec Corp. was approved at the meeting.

 

(6)  The 3rd meeting of the seventh session of the Strategy Committee was held by written resolution on 21 August 2019, whereby the three years rolling development plan of Sinopec corp. (2019-2021) was approved at the meeting.

 

(7)  The 1st meeting of the seventh session of the Remuneration Committee was held by written resolution on 20 March 2019 whereby the proposal in relation to implementation of the rules of the remuneration of directors, supervisors and other senior management for 2018.

 

(8)  The 1st meeting of the seventh session of the Social Responsibility Management Committee was held by written resolution on 20 March 2019, whereby the 2018 Communication on Progress for the Sustainable Development Report of Sinopec Corp. was approved at the meeting.

 

5    BOARD COMMITTEES ISSUED REVIEW OPINIONS TO THE BOARD WHEN PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD, WITHOUT OBJECTION.

 

6    BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

The financial results of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2019, which is prepared in accordance with IFRS and the financial position as at that date and the accompanying analysis are set out from page 146 to page 203 in this annual report. A fair review of the Company's business, a discussions and analysis on business performance using financial key performance indicators and the material factors underlying our results and financial position during the reporting period, particulars of significant events affecting the Company and the outlook of the Company's business are discussed throughout this annual report included in the chapters of Chairman's Address, Business Review and Prospects, Management's Discussion and Analysis and Significant Events. All above discussions constitute parts of the report of the Board of Directors.

 

7    DIVIDEND

The profit distribution policy of Sinopec Corp. maintains consistency and steadiness, and considers the long-term interests of the Company, overall interests of all the shareholders and the sustainable development of the Company. Sinopec Corp. gives priority to adopting cash dividends for profit distribution, and is able to deliver an interim profit distribution. When the net profits and retained earnings of the Company are positive in current year, and in the event that the cash flow of Sinopec Corp. can satisfy the normal operation and sustainable development, Sinopec Corp. should adopt cash dividends, and the distribution profits in cash every year are no less than 30% of the net profits of the Company realised during the corresponding year.

 

The profit distribution plan of Sinopec Corp. for the corresponding year will be carried out in accordance with the policy and procedures stipulated in the Articles of Association, with the advice of minority shareholders being heard and considered. Meanwhile, the independent directors will issue independent opinions.

 

Proposals for dividend distribution

At the 12th meeting of the seventh session of the Board, the Board approved the proposal to distribute a final cash dividend of RMB 0.19 (tax inclusive) per share, combining with an interim distributed dividend of RMB 0.12 (tax inclusive) per share, the total dividend for the whole year is RMB 0.31 (tax included) per share.

 

The final cash dividend will be distributed on or before 19 June 2020 (Friday) to all shareholders whose names appear on the register of members of Sinopec Corp. on the record date of 9 June 2020 (Tuesday). In order to qualify for the final dividend for H shares, the holders of H shares must lodge all share certificates accompanied by the transfer documents with Hong Kong Registrars Limited located at 1712-1716, 17th Floor Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai Hong Kong before 4:30 p.m. on 2 June 2020 (Tuesday) for registration. The H shares register of members of Sinopec Corp. will be closed from 3 June 2020 (Wednesday) to 9 June 2020 (Tuesday) (both dates inclusive).

 

The dividend will be denominated and declared in RMB, and distributed to the domestic shareholders and investors participating in the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program in RMB and to the overseas shareholders in Hong Kong Dollar. The exchange rate for the dividend calculation in Hong Kong Dollar is based on the average benchmark exchange rate of RMB against Hong Kong Dollar as published by the People's Bank of China one week preceding the date of the declaration of such dividend.

 

In accordance with the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China which came into effect on 1 January 2008 and its implementation regulations, Sinopec Corp. is required to withhold and pay enterprise income tax at the rate of 10% on behalf of the non-resident enterprise shareholders whose names appear on the register of members for H Shares of Sinopec Corp. when distributing cash dividends or issuing bonus shares by way of capitalisation from retained earnings. Any H Shares of the Sinopec Corp. which is not registered under the name of an individual shareholder, including those registered under HKSCC Nominees Limited, other nominees, agents or trustees, or other organisations or groups, shall be deemed as shares held by non-resident enterprise shareholders. Therefore, on this basis, enterprise income tax shall be withheld from dividends payable to such shareholders. If holders of H Shares intend to change their shareholder status, please enquire about the relevant procedures with your agents or trustees. Sinopec Corp. will strictly comply with the law or the requirements of the relevant government authority to withhold and pay enterprise income tax on behalf of the relevant shareholders based on the registration of members for H shares of Sinopec Corp. as at the record date.

 

If the individual holders of the H shares who are Hong Kong or Macau residents or residents of the countries which had an agreed tax rate of 10% for the cash dividends or bonus shares by way of capitalisation from retained earnings with China under the relevant tax agreement, Sinopec Corp. will withhold and pay individual income tax on behalf of the relevant shareholders at a rate of 10%. Should the individual holders of the H Shares are residents of the countries which had an agreed tax rate of less than 10% with China under the relevant tax agreement, Sinopec Corp. shall withhold and pay individual income tax on behalf of the relevant shareholders at a rate of 10%. In that case, if the relevant individual holders of the H Shares wish to reclaim the extra amount withheld (Extra Amount) due to the application of 10% tax rate, Sinopec Corp. would apply for the relevant agreed preferential tax treatment provided that the relevant shareholders submit the evidence required by the notice of the tax agreement to the share register of Sinopec Corp. in a timely manner. Sinopec Corp. will assist with the tax refund after the approval of the competent tax authority. Should the individual holders of the H Shares are residents of the countries which had an agreed tax rate of over 10% but less than 20% with China under the tax agreement, Sinopec Corp. shall withhold and pay the individual income tax at the agreed actual rate in accordance with the relevant tax agreement. In the case that the individual holders of the H Shares are residents of the countries which had an agreed tax rate of 20% with China, or which has not entered into any tax agreement with China, or otherwise, Sinopec Corp. shall withhold and pay the individual income tax at a rate of 20%.

 

Pursuant to the Notice on the Tax Policies Related to the Pilot Program of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect (關於滬港股票市場交易互聯互通機制試點有關稅收政策的通知) (Caishui [2014] No. 81) and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect《關於深港股票市場交易互聯互通機制試點有關稅收政策的通知》(Caishui[2016] No.127):

 

For domestic investors investing in the H Shares of Sinopec Corp. through Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program, the company shall withhold and pay income tax at the rate of 20% on behalf of individual investors and securities investment funds. The company will not withhold or pay the income tax of dividends for domestic enterprise investors and those domestic enterprise investors shall report and pay the relevant tax by themselves.

 

For investors of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (including enterprises and individuals) investing in the A Shares of Sinopec Corp. through Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect Program, the Company will withhold and pay income taxes at the rate of 10% on behalf of those investors and will report to the tax authorities for the withholding. For investors who are tax residents of other countries, whose country of domicile is a country having entered into a tax treaty with the PRC stipulating a dividend tax rate of lower than 10%, the enterprises and individuals may, or may entrust a withholding agent to, apply to the competent tax authorities for the entitlement of the rate under such tax treaty. Upon approval by the tax authorities, the amount paid in excess of the tax payable based on the tax rate according to such tax treaty will be refunded.

 

The dividend distribution and bonus shares declared by Sinopec Corp. in the past three years are as follows:

 

	2019	2018	2017
Cash dividends (RMB/Share, tax inclusive)	0.31	0.42	0.50
Total amount of cash dividends (RMB billion, tax inclusive)	37.53	50.85	60.54
Net profits attributed to the shareholders of the listed company shown in the  consolidated statement for the dividend year (RMB billion)	57.47	61.62	51.12
Ratio between the dividends and the net profit attributed to the shareholders of the  listed company in the consolidated statement (%)	65.31	82.52	118.42

 

Note: The final cash dividend for 2019 is subject to the approval at the 2019 annual general meeting.

 

The aggregate cash dividend declared by Sinopec Corp. during three years from 2017 to 2019 is RMB 1.23 per share, and the total dividend payment from 2017 to 2019 as a percentage of average net profit attributed to the shareholders of the listed company in the three years is 262.5%.

 

8    RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE COMPANY'S INTERNAL CONTROL

The Board is fully responsible for establishing and maintaining the internal control system related to the financial statements as well as ensuring its effective implementation. In 2019, the Board assessed and evaluated the internal control of Sinopec Corp. according to the Basic Standard for Enterprise Internal Control, Application Guidelines for Enterprise Internal Control and Assessment Guidelines for Enterprise Internal Control. There were no material defects in relation to the internal control system as of 31 December 2019. The internal control system of Sinopec Corp. related to the financial statements is sound and effective.

 

2019 Internal Control Assessment Report of Sinopec Corp. was reviewed and approved at the 12th meeting of the seventh Session of the Board on 27 March 2020, and all members of the Board warrant that the contents of the report are true, accurate and complete, and there are no false representations, misleading statements or material omissions contained in the report.

 

9    DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, THE IMPLEMTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES BY THE COMPANY

Details with regard to the Company's performance in relation to environmental and social-related policies and performances are provided in the Chairman's Address and Business Review and Prospects in this annual report as well as the 2019 Communication on Progress for the Sustainable Development of Sinopec Corp. Those disclosures in relation to the environmental policies constitute part of the Report of the Board of Directors.

 

10  DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD, THE COMPANY DID NOT VIOLATE LAWS OR REGULATIONS WHICH HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT ON THE COMPANY

 

11  MAJOR SUPPLIERS AND CUSTOMERS

During this reporting period, the total value of the purchasing from the top five crude oil suppliers of the Company accounted for 49.1% of the total value of the crude oil purchasing by the Company, of which the total value of the purchasing from the largest supplier accounted for 19.3% of the total value of the crude oil purchasing by the Company.

 

The total sales value to the five largest customers of the Company in 2019 was RMB 261,811 million, accounted for 8.8% of the total sales value of the Company, of which the sales value to the connected party (Sinopec group) among the five largest customers was RMB 111,110 million, accounted for 3.7% of the total sales value for the year.

 

During the reporting period, other than disclosed above, all the top five crude oil suppliers and the other four largest customers of the Company were independent third parties. There were no supplier, customer, employee or others that have a significant impact on the Company and on which the Company's success depends.

 

12  BANK LOANS AND OTHER BORROWINGS

Details of bank loans and other borrowings of the Company as of 31 December 2019 are set out in Note 30 to the financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS in this annual report.

 

13  FIXED ASSETS

During this reporting period, changes to the fixed assets of the Company are set out in Note 16 to the financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS in this annual report.

 

14  RESERVES

During this reporting period, the changes to the reserves of the Company are set out in the consolidated statement of changes in shareholders' equity in the financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS in this annual report.

 

15  DONATIONS

During this reporting period, the amount of charity donations made by the Company amounted to RMB 0.209 billion.

 

16  PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS

Pursuant to the Articles of Association and the laws of the PRC, the shareholders of Sinopec Corp. are not entitled to any pre-emptive rights. Therefore the existing shareholders cannot request Sinopec Corp. for the right of first refusal in proportion to their shareholdings.

 

17  REPURCHASE, SALES AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

During this reporting period, neither Sinopec Corp. nor any of its subsidiaries repurchased, sold or redeemed any listed shares of Sinopec Corp. or its subsidiaries.

 

18  DIRECTORS' INTERESTS IN COMPETING BUSINESS

As at the end of the reporting period, the Company has resolved its competition with Sinopec Group in the chemical business. For details for the positions held by the directors of Sinopec Corp. in the Sinopec Group during the reporting period, please refer to the section "Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees" of this annual report.

 

19  DIRECTORS' INTERESTS IN CONTRACTS

No director had a material interest, either directly or indirectly, in any contract of significance to the business of the Company to which Sinopec Corp. or any of its holding companies, subsidiaries or fellow subsidiaries was a party during the reporting period.

 

20 MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS

No contracts concerning management or administration of the whole or any substantial part of the business of the Company were entered into or existed during the reporting period.

 

21  PERMITTED INDEMNITY PROVISIONS

During the reporting period, Sinopec Corp. has purchased liability insurance for all directors to minimise their risks arising from the performance of their duties. The permitted indemnity provisions are stipulated in such directors liability insurance in respect of the liabilities and costs associated with the potential legal proceedings that may be brought against such directors.

 

22  EQUITY-LINKED AGREEMENTS

As of 31 December 2019, the Company has not entered into any equity-linked agreement.

 

23  OIL & GAS RESERVE APPRAISAL PRINCIPLES

We manage our reserves estimation through a two-tier management system. Our Oil and Natural Gas Reserves Management Committee, or RMC, at the headquarters level oversees the overall reserves estimation process including organisation, coordination, monitoring and major decision-making, and reviews the reserves estimation of our Company. Each of our branches has a reserves management committee that manages and coordinates the reserves estimation, organises the estimation process and reviews the reserve estimation report at the branch level.

 

Our RMC is led by President of our Company, related departments of headquarters, Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute of Sinopec (PEPRIS) and senior managers of oilfield branches. Mr. Liu Hongbin, the Chairman of RMC is Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp., with over 30 years of experience in oil and gas industry. A majority of our RMC members hold Ph.D. or master's degrees, and our members have an average of 20 years of technical experience in relevant professional fields, such as geology, engineering and economics.

 

Our reserves estimates are guided by procedural manuals and technical guidance formulated by the company. A number of working divisions at the production bureau level, including the exploration, development and financial divisions are responsible for initial collection and compilation of information about reserves. Experts from exploration, development and economic divisions prepare the initial report on the reserves estimate which is then reviewed by the RMC at the subsidiary level to ensure the qualitative and quantitative compliance with technical guidance as well as its accuracy and reasonableness. We also engage outside consultants to assist in our compliance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Our reserves estimation process is further facilitated by a specialised reserves database, which is improved and updated periodically.

 

24  CORE COMPETITIVENESS ANALYSIS

The Company is a large scale integrated energy and petrochemical company with upstream, mid-stream and downstream operations. The Company is a large scaled oil and gas producer in China; in respect of refining capacity, it ranks first in China; equipped with a well-developed refined oil products sales network, the Company is the largest supplier of refined oil products in China; and in terms of ethylene production capacity, the Company rank first in China, and has a well-established marketing network for chemical products.

 

The integrated business structure of the Company carries strong advantages in synergy among its various business segments, enabling the Company to continuously tap onto potentials in attaining an efficient and comprehensive utilisation of its resources, and endowed the Company with strong resistance against risks, as well as remarkable capabilities in sustaining profitability.

 

The Company enjoys a favourable positioning with its operations located close to the consumer markets. Along with the steady growth in the Chinese economy, sales volume of both oil products and chemical products of the Company has been increasing steadily over the years; through continuous and specialised marketing efforts, the Company's capability in international operations and market expansion has been further enhanced.

 

The Company owns a team of professionals and expertise engaged in the production of oil and gas, operation of refineries and chemical plants, as well as marketing activities. The Company applies outstanding fine management measures with its remarkable capabilities in management of operations, and enjoys a favourable operational cost advantage in its downstream businesses.

 

The Company has formulated a well-established technology system and mechanism, and owns competent teams specialised in R&D covering a wide range of subjects; the four platforms for technology advancement is taking shape, which includes exploration and development of oil and gas, refining, petrochemicals and strategic emerging technology. With its overall technologies reaching state of the art level in the global arena, and some of them taking the lead globally, the Company enjoys a strong technical strength.

 

The Company always attaches great importance to fulfilling social responsibilities, and carries out the green and low carbon development strategy to pursue a sustainable development. Moreover, the Company enjoys an outstanding "Sinopec" brand name, plays an important role in the national economy and is a renowned and reputable company in China.

 

25  RISK FACTORS

In the course of its production and operations, the Company will actively take various measures to circumvent operational risks. However, in practice, it may not be possible to prevent the occurrence of all risks and uncertainties described below.

 

Risks with regard to the variations from macroeconomic situation: The business results of the Company are closely related to China's and global economic situation. The development of Chinese economy has entered New Normal. Although various countries have adopted different kinds of macroeconomic policies to eliminate negative effects caused by lower growth of global economy, the turnaround of economic recovery still remains uncertain. The Company's business could also be adversely affected by other factors such as the impact on export due to trade protectionism from certain countries, impact on import which is likely caused by regional trade agreements, and negative impact on the investment of overseas oil and gas exploration and development and refining and chemical storage projects which results from the uncertainty of geopolitics, international crude oil price and etc.

 

Risks with regard to the cyclical effects from the industry: The majority of the Company's operating income comes from the sales of refined oil products and petrochemical products, and part of those businesses and their related products are cyclic and are sensitive to macro-economy, cyclic changes of regional and global economy, the changes of the production capacity and output, demand of consumers, prices and supply of the raw materials, as well as prices and supply of the alternative products etc. Although the Company is an integrated company with upstream, midstream and downstream operations, it can only counteract the adverse influences of industry cycle to some extent.

 

Risks from the macroeconomic policies and government regulation: Although the Chinese government is gradually liberalizing the market entry regulations on petroleum and petrochemicals sector, the petroleum and petrochemical industries in China are still subject to entry regulations to a certain degree, which include: issuing licenses in relation to exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas, issuing business licenses for trading crude oil and refined oil, setting caps for retail prices of gasoline, diesel and other oil products, the imposing of the special oil income levy, formulation of refined oil import and export quotas and procedures, formulation of safety, quality and environmental protection standards and formulation of energy conservation policies. In addition, the changes which have occurred or might occur in macroeconomic and industry policies such as the fully opening up of exploration and mining rights, the opening up of crude oil import licenses and the right of tenure, removing the restriction of share ratio of refining projects to foreign enterprises, further improvement in pricing mechanism of refined oil products, cancellation of wholesale right and decentralization of retail right of refined oil products, and gas stations investment are fully opened to foreign investment, reforming and improvement in pricing mechanism of natural gas, cost supervision of gas pipeline and access to third party, and reforming in resource tax and environmental tax, will cause effects on our business operations. Such changes might further intensify market competition and have certain effect on the operations and profitability of the Company.

 

Risks with regard to the changes from environmental legislation requirements: Our production activities generate waste liquids, gases and solids. The Company has built up the supporting effluent treatment systems to prevent and reduce the pollution to the environment. However, the relevant government authorities may issue and implement much stricter environmental protection laws and regulations, adopt much stricter environment protection standards. Under such situations, the Company may increase expenses in relation to the environment protection accordingly.

 

Risks from the uncertainties of obtaining additional oil and gas resources: The future sustainable development of the Company is partly dependent to a certain extent on our abilities in continuously discovering or acquiring additional oil and natural gas resources. To obtain additional oil and natural gas resources, the Company faces some inherent risks associated with exploration and development and/or with acquisition activities, and the Company has to invest a large amount of money with no guarantee of certainty. If the Company fails to acquire additional resources through further exploration, development and acquisition to increase the reserves of crude oil and natural gas, the oil and natural gas reserves and production of the Company may decline over time which may adversely affect the Company's financial situation and operation performance.

 

Risks with regard to the external purchase of crude oil: A significant amount of crude oil as needed by the Company is satisfied through external purchases. In recent years, especially influenced by the mismatch between supply and demand of crude oil, geopolitics, global economic growth and other factors, the prices of crude oil fluctuate sharply. Additionally, the supply of crude oil may even be interrupted due to some extreme major incidents in certain regions. Although the Company has taken flexible countermeasures, it may not fully avoid risks associated with any significant fluctuation of international crude oil prices and sudden disruption of supply of crude oil from certain regions.

 

Risks with regard to the operation and natural disasters: The process of petroleum chemical production is exposed to the high risks of inflammation, explosion and environmental pollution and is vulnerable to extreme natural disasters. Such contingencies may cause serious impacts to the society, major financial losses to the Company and grievous injuries to people. The Company has always been paying great emphasis on the safety production, and has implemented a strict HSSE management system as an effort to avoid such risks as far as possible. Meanwhile, the main assets and inventories of the Company as well as the possibility of damage to a third party have been insured. However, such measures may not shield the Company from financial losses or adverse impact resulting from such contingencies.

 

Investment risks: Petroleum and chemical sector is a capital intensive industry. Although the Company has adopted a prudent investment strategy, and as required by the new procedure and management of investment decision-making issued in 2017, conducted rigorous feasibility study on each investment project, which consists of special verifications in raw material market, technical scheme, profitability, safety and environmental protection, legal compliance, etc., certain investment risks will still exist and expected returns may not be achieved due to major changes in factors such as market environment, prices of equipment and raw materials, and construction period during the implementation of the projects.

 

Risks with regard to overseas business development and management: The Company engages in oil and gas exploration, refining and chemical, warehouse logistics and international trading businesses in some regions outside China. The Company's overseas businesses and assets are subject to the jurisdiction of the host country's laws and regulations. In light of the complicated factors such as imbalance of global economy, competitiveness of industry and trade structure, exclusiveness of regional trading blocs, polarisation of benefits distribution in trade, and politicisation of economic and trade issues, including sanctions, barriers to entry, instability in the financial and taxation policies, contract defaults, tax dispute, the Company's risks with regard to overseas business development and management could be increased.

 

Currency risks: At present, China implements an administered floating exchange rate regime based on market supply and demand which is regulated with reference to a basket of currencies in terms of the exchange rate of Renminbi. As the Company purchases a significant portion of crude oil in foreign currency which is based on US dollar-denominated prices, the realized price of crude oil is based on international crude oil price. Despite the fact that, the price of the domestic refined oil products will change as the exchange rate of the Renminbi changes according to the pricing mechanism for the domestic refined oil products, and the price of other domestic petrochemical products will also be influenced by the price of the imported products, which to a large extent, smooths the impact of the Renminbi exchange rate on the processing and sales of the Company's crude oil refined products. However, the fluctuation of the Renminbi exchange rate will still have an effect on the income of the upstream sector.

 

Cyber-security risks: the Company has a well- established network safety system, information infrastructure and operation system, and network safety information platform, devotes significant resources to protecting our digital infrastructure and data against cyber-attacks, if our systems against cyber-security risk prove to be ineffective, we could be adversely affected by, among other things, disruptions to our business operations, and loss of proprietary information, including intellectual property, financial information and employer and customer data, injuries to people, property, environment and reputation. As cyber-security attacks continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to enhance our protective measures against cyber-security breaches.

 

By Order of the Board

Zhang Yuzhuo

Chairman

 

Beijing, China, 27 March 2020

 

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

Dear Shareholders:

 

In 2019, the Board of Supervisors and each supervisor of Sinopec Corp. diligently performed their supervision responsibilities, actively participated in the supervision process of decision making, carefully reviewed and effectively supervised the major decisions of the Company, and endeavored to safeguard the interests of shareholders and the Company in accordance with the PRC Company Law and the Articles of Association of Sinopec Corp.

 

During this reporting period, the Board of Supervisors held four (4) meetings in total, and mainly reviewed and approved the proposals in relation to the Company's periodic report, financial statements, communication on progress for sustainable development, internal control assessment report and working report of the Board of Supervisors etc.

 

On 22 March 2019, the 4th meeting of the seventh session of the Board of Supervisors was held, and the proposals in relation to Annual Report of Sinopec Corp. for 2018, the Financial Statements of Sinopec Corp. for 2018, 2018 Communication on Progress for Sustainable Development of Sinopec Corp., Internal Control Assessment Report of Sinopec Corp. for 2018, Work Report of the Board of Supervisors of Sinopec Corp. for 2018, were reviewed and approved at the meeting.

 

On 29 April 2019, the 5th meeting of the seventh session of the Board of Supervisors was held, and the proposal in relation to the First Quarterly Report of Sinopec Corp. for 2019, capital increase and assets transfer to Sinopec-SK (Wuhan) Petrochemical Co., Ltd., (SINOPEC-SK) were reviewed and approved at the meeting.

 

On 23 August 2019, the 6th meeting of the seventh session of the Board of Supervisors was held, and the Interim Report of Sinopec Corp. for 2019, the Interim Financial Statements of Sinopec Corp. for 2019, were reviewed and approved at the meeting.

 

On 30 October 2019, the 7th meeting of the seventh session of the Board of Supervisors was held, and the Third Quarterly Report of Sinopec Corp. for 2019 was reviewed and approved at the meeting.

 

In addition, the supervisors attended the general meetings of shareholders and attended meetings of the Board. The Board of Supervisors also organised some of the supervisors to attend the trainings for directors and supervisors of listed companies organised by Beijing Securities Supervisory Bureau under CSRC, which have further improved the Supervisors' capabilities in performing supervisory duties.

 

Through supervision and inspection on the production and operation management as well as financial management conditions, the Board of Supervisors and all the supervisors conclude that in 2019, facing the difficult conditions such as the complex and severe production and operation situation, rising internal and external risk challenges, slowing down of global economic growth, volatile international oil prices, increasing of domestic refining capacity, fall of chemical products prices, and the market competition is extremely fierce, the company conscientiously implements the decision-making and deployment of the board of directors, focuses on laying a decisive foundation for comprehensive and sustainable development, strives for progress in stability, takes on actions, pays close attention to implementation, promotes all work as a whole to maintains the growth of production indicators, and achieves better than expected business performance. The Board of Supervisors had no objection to the supervised issues during this reporting period.

 

Firstly, the Board and the senior management of Sinopec Corp. performed their responsibilities pursuant to relevant laws and regulations, and implemented efficient management. The Board diligently fulfilled its obligations and exercised its rights under the PRC Company Law and the Articles of Association, and made informed decisions on major issues. The senior management diligently executed the resolutions approved by the Board, continued to intensified refined management and strived to tap potentials and enhance efficiency, optimise business structures, committed to achieving the target of sustaining profit and growth set by the Board. During the reporting period, the Board of Supervisors did not discover any behavior of any director or senior management which violated laws, regulations, or the Articles of Association, or was detrimental to the interests of Sinopec Corp. or its shareholders.

 

Secondly, the reports and financial statements prepared by Sinopec Corp. in 2019 complied with the relevant regulation of domestic and overseas securities regulators, the disclosed information truly, accurately, completely and fairly reflected Sinopec Corp.'s financial results and operation performance. The dividend distribution plan was made after comprehensive consideration of the long-term interests of Sinopec Corp. and the interests of the shareholders. No violation of confidential provisions of persons who prepared and reviewed the report was found.

 

Thirdly, Sinopec Corp.'s internal control system is effective. No material defects of internal control were found.

 

Fourthly, the consideration for the equity investment made by Sinopec Corp. was fair and reasonable, neither insider trading, damage to shareholders' interest nor losses of corporate assets was discovered.

 

Fifthly, all connected transactions between the Company and Sinopec Group were in compliance with the relevant rules and regulations of domestic and overseas listing exchanges. The pricing of all the connected transaction was fair and reasonable. No behaviors which is detrimental to the interests of Sinopec Corp. or its shareholders was discovered.

 

In 2020, the Board of Supervisors and each supervisor will continue to follow the principle of due diligence and integrity, earnestly perform the duties of supervision as delegated by the shareholders, strictly review the significant decisions, strengthen the process control and supervision, increase the strength of inspection and supervision on subsidiaries and protect Sinopec Corp.'s benefit and its shareholders' interests.

 

 

 

 

 

Zhao Dong

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors

27 March 2020

 

 

DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

 

1    INTRODUCTION OF DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS AND OTHER SENIOR MANAGEMENT

 

(1)  Directors

Zhang Yuzhuo, aged 58, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Zhang is Ph.D. in engineering, Research Fellow and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Mr. Zhang is an alternate member of the nineteenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. In January 1997, he was appointed as Vice President of China Coal Research Institute. In February 1998, he temporarily served as Deputy General Manager of Yankuang Group Co. Ltd. In July 1998, he was appointed as Vice President of China Coal Research Institute, Director and Deputy General Manager of China Coal Technology Corporation. In March 1999, he served as President of China Coal Research Institute and Chairman of China Coal Technology Corporation. In June 1999, he was appointed as President and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of China Coal Research Institute, Chairman and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of China Coal Technology Corporation. In January 2002, he was appointed as Deputy General Manager of Shenhua Group Corporation Limited, and served concurrently as Chairman and General Manager of China Shenhua Coal Liquefaction Company Limited. In August 2003, he was appointed as Deputy General Manager and Member of the Leading Party Member Group of Shenhua Group Corporation Limited, and served concurrently as Chairman of China Shenhua Coal Liquefaction Company Limited. In December 2008, he was appointed as Director, General Manager and Member of the Leading Party Member Group of Shenhua Group Corporation Limited. In July 2009, he served concurrently as Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. In May 2014, he was appointed as Chairman and Secretary of the Leading Party Member Group of Shenhua Group Corporation Limited, and served concurrently as Chairman of China Shenhua Energy Company Limited. In March 2017, he served as a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee and Secretary of the CPC Binhai New Area Committee. In July 2017, he served concurrently as Chairman of Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment & Development Co., Ltd. In May 2018, he served concurrently as Director of China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone Administration. In January 2020, he was appointed as Chairman and Secretary of the Leading Party Member Group of China Petrochemical Corporation; in March 2020, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sinopec Corp.

 

Ma Yongsheng, aged 58, Director and President of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Ma is a professor level senior engineer with a Ph.D. degree and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Mr. Ma is the member of the thirteenth national committee of CPPCC. In April 2002, he was appointed as Chief Geologist of Sinopec Southern Exploration and Production Company; in April 2006, he was appointed as Executive Deputy Manager (in charge of overall management), Chief Geologist of Sinopec Southern Exploration and Production Company; in January 2007, he was appointed as General Manager and Party Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec Southern Exploration and Production Company; in March 2007, he served as General Manager and Deputy Party Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec Exploration Company; in May 2007, he was appointed as Deputy Commander of Sichuan-East China Gas Pipeline Project Headquarter of Sinopec Corp., General Manager and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec Exploration Company; in May 2008, he was appointed as Deputy Director General of Exploration and Production Department of Sinopec Corp. (Director General Level) and Deputy Commander of Sichuan-East China Gas Pipeline Project Headquarter; in July 2010, he served as Deputy Chief Geologist of Sinopec Corp.; in August 2013, he was appointed as Chief Geologist of Sinopec Corp.; in December 2015, he served as Vice President of China Petrochemical Corporation and appointed as Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp.; in January 2017, he was appointed as Member of the Leading Party Member Group of China Petrochemical Corporation; in April 2019, he was appointed as director, president and vice Secretary of the Leading Party Member Group of China Petrochemical Corporation; in October 2018, he was appointed as President of Sinopec Corp. In February 2016, he was elected as Director of Sinopec Corp.

 

Yu Baocai, aged 55, Director of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Yu is a senior engineer and master in economics. In September 1999, Mr. Yu was appointed as the Deputy General Manager of Daqing Petrochemical Company; In December 2001, he was appointed as the General Manager and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of Daqing Petrochemical Company; In September 2003, he was appointed as the General Manager and Secretary of CPC Committee of Lanzhou Petrochemical Company; In June 2007, he was appointed as the General Manager and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of Lanzhou Petrochemical Company and the General Manager of Lanzhou Petroleum & Chemical Company; He had been a member of the Leading Party Member Group and the Deputy General Manager of China National Petroleum Corporation since September 2008 and had been acting concurrently as director of Petrochina Company Limited since May 2011; Since June 2018, he has been a member of the Leading Party Member Group and the Vice President of China Petrochemical Corporation. In October 2018, Mr. Yu was elected as Director of Sinopec Corp.

 

Ling Yiqun, aged 57, Director and Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Ling is a professor level senior engineer with a Ph.D. degree. From 1983, he worked in the refinery of Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Company and the Refining Department of Beijing Yanshan Petrochemical Company Ltd. In February 2000, he was appointed as the Deputy Director General of Refining Department of Sinopec Corp.; in June 2003, he was appointed as the Director General of Refining Department of Sinopec Corp.; in July 2010, he was appointed as Vice President of Sinopec Corp.; in May 2012, he was appointed concurrently as Executive Director, President and Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec Refinery Product Sales Company Limited; in August 2013, he was appointed concurrently as the President of Sinopec Qilu Company; in March 2017, he was appointed as Vice President of China Petrochemical Corporation; Since April 2019, he has been a member of the Leading Party Member Group of China Petrochemical Corporation; in February 2018, he was appointed as Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp. In May 2018, he was elected as Director of Sinopec Corp.

 

Li Yong, aged 56, Director of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Li is a senior engineer with a master degree. In April 2003, he was appointed as Deputy General Manager of Tianjin Branch of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (China) Limited; in October 2005, he was appointed as Executive Vice President of China Oilfield Services Limited; in April 2009, he was appointed as President of China Oilfield Services Limited; in September 2010, he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and President of China Oilfield Services Limited; in July 2012, he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary of CPC Committee of China Oilfield Services Limited; in June 2016, he was appointed as Assistant President of China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Executive Vice President of China National Offshore Oil Corporation Limited, as well as Chief Director (General Manager) and Secretary of CPC Committee of China National Offshore Oil Corporation Bohai Petroleum Administration Bureau (China National Offshore Oil Corporation (China) Limited Tianjin Branch); in March 2017, he was appointed as Vice President of China Petrochemical Corporation, and since July 2017, he concurrently served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation, as well as Chairman of Board of Directors and President of Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Limited. In May 2018, he was elected as Director of Sinopec Corp.

 

Tang Min, aged 66, Independent Director of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Tang has a Ph.D. in economics. He presently acts as Counsellor of the State Council of the PRC and Executive Vice Chairman of YouChange China Social Entrepreneur Foundation, Independent Director of Baoshang Bank Co., Ltd, and Independent Director of China Minmetals Development Co., Ltd. He was an economist and senior economist at the Economic Research Centre of the Asian Development Bank between 1989 and 2000; chief economist at the Representative office of the Asian Development Bank in China between 2000 and 2004; Deputy Representative at the Representative Office of the Asian Development Bank in China between 2004 and 2007 and Deputy Secretary-General of the China Development Research Foundation between 2007 and 2010. In May 2015, he acted as Independent Director of Sinopec Corp.

 

Fan Gang, aged 66, Independent Director of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Fan has a Ph.D. in economics. He presently acts as Vice President of China Society of Economic Reform, Head of the National Economic Research Institution of China Reform Foundation, President of China Development Institute (Shenzhen) and an economics professor at Peking University. He began to work for Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 1988, and subsequently served as Director of Editorial Department for the Economic Research Journal between 1992 and 1993 and as Deputy Head of the Institute of Economics of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences between 1994 and 1995. In 1996, he was redesignated to work for China Society of Economic Reform, and subsequently founded the National Economic Research Institution. From 2006 to 2010, and between 2015 and 2018, he served as a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the People's Bank of China. Mr. Fan is recognised as one of the National Young and Middle-Aged Experts with Outstanding Contributions. In May 2015, he acted as Independent Director of Sinopec Corp.

 

Cai Hongbin, aged 52, Independent Director of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Cai is dean of Faculty of Business and Economics and Professor of Economics of the University of Hong Kong. Mr. Cai has a Ph.D. degree in Economics. From 1997 to 2005, Mr. Cai taught at University of California, Los Angeles; since 2005, he served as a professor and Ph.D. supervisor in Applied Economics Department at Guanghua School of Management at Peking University, he once served as Director, Assistant to the Dean and Vice Dean of the Applied Economics Department. From December 2010 to January 2017, he served as the dean of Guanghua School of Management at Peking University. In June 2017, he joined the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Hong Kong. Professor Cai Hongbin is a member of the 12th National People's Congress and a member of Beijing Municipal Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, serving as member of the eleventh Central Committee of China Democratic League, deputy Chairman of Beijing Municipal Committee of China Democratic League, and a special auditor of the National Audit Office. Mr. Cai once served as external director of China Petrochemical Corporation, independent directors of China Unicom and China Everbright Bank, etc. Mr. Cai currently serves as independent director of CCB International (Holdings) Ltd., Rightway Holdings Co., Ltd. and PingAn Bank Co., Ltd., In May 2018, Mr. Cai acted as Independent Director of Sinopec Corp.

 

Ng, Kar Ling Johnny, aged 59, Independent Director of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Ng currently is a practicing certified public accountant in Hong Kong, a practicing auditor and certified public accountant in Macau, a fellow member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FCPA), a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), and a Senior member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA). Mr. Ng obtained a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1984 and 1999, respectively. Mr. Ng joined KPMG (Hong Kong) in 1984 and became a Partner in 1996. He acted as a Managing Partner from June 2000 to September 2015 and the Vice Chairman of KPMG (China) from October 2015 to March 2016. Mr. Ng currently serves as Independent Non-executive Director and of China Vanke Co., Ltd. and Fangdd Network Group Ltd. In May 2018, Mr. Ng acted as Independent Director of Sinopec Corp.

 

LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

 

					Remuneration
					paid by	Whether
					in 2019	paid by	Equity interests in Sinopec Corp.
			Position in		(RMB 1,000,	the holding	(as at 31 December)
Name	Gender	Age	Sinopec Corp.	Tenure	before tax)	Company	2019	2018
Zhang Yuzhuo	Male	58	Chairman	2020.03-2021.05	-	No	0	0
Ma Yongsheng	Male	58	Board Director, President	2016.02-2021.05	1,563.0	No	0	0
Yu Baocai	Male	55	Board Director	2018.10-2021.05	-	Yes	0	0
Ling Yiqun	Male	57	Board Director, Senior Vice President	2018.05-2021.05	-	Yes	13,000	13,000
Li Yong	Male	56	Board Director	2018.05-2021.05	-	Yes	0	0
Tang Min	Male	66	Independent Director	2015.05-2021.05	350.0	No	0	0
Fan Gang	Male	66	Independent Director	2015.05-2021.05	350.0	No	0	0
Cai Hongbin	Male	52	Independent Director	2018.05-2021.05	350.0	No	0	0
Ng, Kar Ling Johnny	Male	59	Independent Director	2018.05-2021.05	350.0	No	0	0

 

LIST OF FORMER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

 

					Remuneration
					paid by	Whether
					in 2019	paid by	Equity interests in Sinopec Corp.
			Position in		(RMB 1,000,	the holding	(as at 31 December)
Name	Gender	Age	Sinopec Corp.	Tenure	before tax)	Company	2019	2018
Dai Houliang	Male	56	Former Chairman	2009.05-2020.01	-	Yes	0	0
Li Yunpeng	Male	61	Former Director	2017.06-2020.03	-	Yes	0	0
Liu Zhongyun	Male	56	Former Director and Senior Vice President	2018.05-2019.12	-	Yes	0	0

 

(2)  Supervisors

Zhao Dong, aged 49, Chairman of Board of Supervisors of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Zhao is a professor-level senior accountant with a doctor's degree. In July 2002, he was appointed as chief accountant and general manager of financial assets department of CNPC International (Nile) Ltd.; in January 2005, he was appointed as deputy chief accountant and executive deputy director of financial and capital operation department of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation; in April 2005, he was appointed as deputy chief accountant and general manager of financial and capital operation department of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation; in June 2008, he was appointed as chief accountant of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation; in October 2009, he was appointed as chief accountant of China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation and chief financial officer of PetroChina International Investment Company Limited; in September 2012, he was appointed as vice general manager of CNPC Nile Company and in August 2013, he was appointed as general manager of CNPC Nile Company; in November 2015, he was appointed as chief financial officer of PetroChina Company Limited. He has been a member of the Leading Party Member Group and chief accountant of China Petrochemical Corporation since November 2016; in June 2017, he was elected as Chairman of Board of Supervisors of Sinopec Corp.

 

Jiang Zhenying, aged 55, Supervisor of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Jiang is a professor level senior economist with a doctor degree. In December 1998, he was appointed as the Vice President of the China Petrochemical Supplies & Equipment Co., Ltd.; in February 2000, he was appointed as the Deputy Director General of Sinopec Procurement Management Department; in December 2001, he was appointed as the Director General of Sinopec Procurement Management Department and in November 2005 he concurrently held the positions of Chairman of Board of Directors, President and Secretary of CPC Committee of China Petrochemical International Co., Ltd.; in March 2006, he was appointed as the Director General (General Manager), Executive Director and Secretary of the CPC Committee of Sinopec Procurement Management Department (Sinopec International Co. Ltd.); in April 2010, he was appointed as the Director General (General Manager), Executive Director and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of Sinopec Procurement Management Department (Sinopec International Co. Ltd); in November 2014, he was appointed as Director General of Safety Supervisory Department of Sinopec Corp.; in May 2017, he was appointed as Deputy Director of the Office of Leading Party Member Group Inspection Work of China Petrochemical Corporation and Since December 2018, he was appointed as Director of Audit Bureau of China Petrochemical Corporation, and Director of Audit Department of Sinopec Corp.; Since December 2019, he was appointed as president of Audit Bureau of Sinopec Corp. and the Director of the Office of Audit Committee of Leading Party Member Group of China Petrochemical Corporation; since December 2010, he was elected as the Employee's Representative Supervisor of Sinopec Corp. In May 2018, he was elected as Supervisor of Sinopec Corp.

 

Yang Changjiang, aged 59, Supervisor of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Yang is a professor-level senior administration engineer with a Master's degree. In October 2007, he was appointed as a standing committee member of CPC Committee of Shengli Petroleum Administration Bureau; in April 2009, he was appointed as Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee and Secretary of Discipline Inspection Committee of Shengli Petroleum Administration Bureau, as well as a standing committee member of CPC Committee of Dongying City, Shandong Province; in December 2012, he was appointed as Secretary of CPC Committee and Deputy Director of Southwest Petroleum Bureau, Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Southwest Oil & Gas Company and a member of the Coordination Committee of Sinopec Southwest Petroleum Bureau, Sinopec Southwest Oil & Gas Company and Sinopec Southern Exploration Company; in December 2016, he was appointed as Secretary of CPC Committee and Deputy Director General of Shengli Petroleum Administration Bureau, and Deputy General Manager of Shengli Oilfield Company; in October 2017, he was appointed as Secretary of CPC Committee and Deputy General Manager of Shengli Petroleum Administration Bureau Co., Ltd., and Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Shengli Oilfield Company. In March 2018, he has served as Director General of Party Affairs and Employee Relations Department (Leading Party Member Group Office), Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee directly under China Petrochemical Corporation, Deputy Director General of Working Committee of Trade Union, and Deputy Director of the Youth Working Committee of China Petrochemical Corporation. In December 2019, he has served as Director General of Party Affairs and Employee Relations Department, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee directly under China Petrochemical Corporation, Deputy Director General of Working Committee of Trade Union, and Deputy Director of the Youth Working Committee of China Petrochemical Corporation. In May 2018, he was elected as Supervisor of Sinopec Corp.

 

Zhang Baolong, aged 60, Supervisor of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Zhang is a professor-level senior economist with a Master degree. In July 1995, he served as General Manager of Hong Kong Century Bright Capital Investment Limited; in August 1996, he served as Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Finance Co., Ltd.; in December 2001, he was appointed as Deputy General Manager and Chief Accountant of China International United Petroleum & Chemicals Co., Ltd.; in August 2004, he was appointed concurrently as Secretary of Disciplinary Inspection Committee of China International United Petroleum & Chemicals Co., Ltd.; since March 2006, he has served as General Manager and Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec Finance Co., Ltd. In June 2018, he was appointed as Deputy Director of Department of Capital Management and Financial Services of China Petrochemical Corporation. In December 2019, he was appointed as Vice President of Department of Capital Management and Financial Services of China Petrochemical Corporation. In May 2018, he was elected as Supervisor of Sinopec Corp.

 

Zou Huiping, aged 59, Supervisor of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Zou is a professor level senior accountant with a university diploma. In November 1998, he was appointed as Chief Accountant in Guangzhou Petrochemical General Plant of China Petrochemical Corporation; in February 2000, he was appointed as Deputy Director General of Finance & Assets Department of China Petrochemical Corporation; in December 2001, he was appointed as Deputy Director General of Finance & Planning Department of China Petrochemical Corporation; in March 2006, he was appointed as Director General of Finance & Assets Department of Assets Management Co., Ltd. of China Petrochemical Corporation; in March 2006, he was appointed as Director General of Auditing Department of Sinopec Corp and Director General of China Petrochemical Corporation Audit Bureau. In September 2018, he was appointed as Chief Representative of Sinopec Corp. Hong Kong Office. In May 2006, he was elected as Supervisor of Sinopec Corp.

 

Yu Xizhi, aged 57, Employee's Representative Supervisor of Sinopec Corp. Mr Yu is a professor-level senior engineer with a Ph.D. in engineering. In August 1997, he was appointed as Deputy General Manager of Anqing Petrochemical General Plant and concurrent General Manager of Fertiliser Plant; in September 1999, he became a member of the CPC Standing Committee of Anqing Petrochemical General Plant; in February 2000, he was appointed as Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Anqing Company and in September 2000, he was appointed as General Manager of Sinopec Anqing Company. In January 2005, he was appointed as General Manager of Anqing Petrochemical General Plant and from May 2009 to July 2010, he served an interim position at the Standing Committee of the CPC Anqing Municipal Committee. In July 2010, he became General Manager and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of Maoming Petrochemical Company and General Manager of Sinopec Maoming Company; in July 2016, Mr. Yu was appointed as head of Maoming-Zhanjiang Integration Leading Group; in December 2016, he became Executive Director, General Manager and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of Zhongke (Guangdong) Refining and Petrochemical Co., Ltd. Since April 2017, Mr. Yu has been Director General of Human Resources Department of Sinopec Corp. Since December 2019, he was appointed as president of human resource department of Sinopec Corp. and the Director General of organization department of China Petrochemical Corporation. In January 2020, he was elected as Employee's Representative Supervisor of China Petrochemical Corporation. In June 2017, he was elected as Employee's Representative Supervisor of Sinopec Corp.

 

Zhou Hengyou, aged 56, Employee's Representative Supervisor of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Zhou is a professor level senior administration engineer and with a master degree. In December 1998, Mr. Zhou was appointed as a standing committee member of CPC Committee and Vice Chairman of Trade Union of Jiangsu Petroleum Exploration Bureau; in February 1999, he was appointed as a standing committee member of CPC Committee and Trade Union Chairman of Jiangsu Petroleum Exploration Bureau of China Petrochemical Corporation; in December 2002, he was appointed as Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee and Trade Union Chairman of Jiangsu Petroleum Exploration Bureau; in June 2004, he was appointed as Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee and Secretary of CPC Disciplinary Inspection Committee of Jiangsu Petroleum Exploration Bureau; in August 2005, he was appointed as Secretary of CPC Committee of Jiangsu Petroleum Exploration Bureau; in March 2011, he was appointed as Director General and Secretary of CPC Committee of China Petrochemical News. In March 2015, he was appointed as Director General of the General Office of China Petrochemical Corporation, Director General of Policy Research Department of the General Office of China Petrochemical Corporation and Director General of President's office of Sinopec Corp. In August 2015, he was appointed as Director General of Board of Directors Office under China Petrochemical Corporation; Since December 2019, he was appointed as the director of the Office of Leading Party Member Group Inspection Work of China Petrochemical Corporation. In January 2020, he was appointed as Secretary of the board of directors of China Petrochemical Corporation. In May 2015, he was elected as Supervisor of Sinopec Corp. In May 2018, he was elected as Employee's Representative Supervisor of Sinopec Corp.

 

Yu Renming, aged 56, Employee's Representative Supervisor of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Yu is a professor level senior engineer with a university diploma. In June 2000, he was appointed as the Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd.; in June 2003, he was appointed as the Board Director and Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd.; in September 2006, he was appointed as the Vice President of Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company; in September 2007, he was appointed as the President and the Vice Secretary of CPC committee of Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company; in January 2008, he was appointed as the Director General of Sinopec Production Management Department; in December 2017, he was appointed as the Director General of Refining Department of Sinopec Corp.; Since December 2019, he was elected as Chairman of Board of Directors and Secretary of CPC committee of Sinopec Engineering(Group) Co., Ltd.; and in December 2010, he was elected as Employee's Representative Supervisor of Sinopec Corp.

 

LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

					Remuneration
					paid by
					Sinopec Corp.	Whether
					in 2019	paid by the	Equity interests in Sinopec Corp.
			Position in		(RMB 1,000,	holding	(as of 31 December)
Name	Gender	Age	Sinopec Corp.	Tenure	before tax)	Company	2019	2018
Zhao Dong	Male	49	Chairman of the	2017.06-2021.05	-	Yes	0	0
			Board of Supervisors
Jiang Zhenying	Male	55	Supervisor	2018.05-2021.05	1,321.6	No	0	0
Yang Changjiang	Male	59	Supervisor	2018.05-2021.05	-	Yes	0	0
Zhang Baolong	Male	60	Supervisor	2006.05-2021.05	-	Yes	0	0
Zou Huiping	Male	59	Supervisor	2006.05-2021.05	1,445.7	No	0	0
Yu Xizhi	Male	57	Employee's Representative Supervisor	2017.06-2021.05	1,337.4	No	0	0
Zhou Hengyou	Male	56	Employee's Representative	2018.05-2021.05	1,330.6	No	0	0
			Supervisor
Yu Renming	Male	56	Employee's Representative	2010.12-2021.05	1,346.5	No	0	0
			Supervisor

 

(3)  Other Members of Senior Management

Liu Hongbin, aged 57. Mr. Liu is a senior engineer with a bachelor degree. In June 1995, he was appointed as the chief engineer of Tuha Petroleum Exploration & Development Headquarters; in July 1999, he was appointed as the deputy general manager of PetroChina Tuha Oilfield Company; in July 2000, he was appointed as the commander and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of Tuha Petroleum Exploration & Development Headquarters; in March 2002, he served as the general manager of the Planning Department of PetroChina Company Limited ("PetroChina"); in September 2005, he served as the director of the Planning Department of China National Petroleum Corporation ("CNPC"); in June 2007, he was appointed as the Vice President of PetroChina, and in November 2007, he served concurrently as the general manager and Secretary of CPC Committee of the Marketing Branch of PetroChina; in June 2009, he served concurrently as the general manager and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of the Marketing Branch of PetroChina; in July 2013, he was appointed as Member of the Leading Party Member Group and the deputy general manager of CNPC and in August 2013, he served concurrently as an executive director and general manager of Daqing Oilfield Company Limited, director of Daqing Petroleum Administration Bureau and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of Daqing Oilfield; in May 2014, he served concurrently as a director of PetroChina; in November 2019, he was appointed as Member of the Leading Party Member Group and Vice President of China Petrochemical Corporation; in March 2020, he was concurrently appointed as the Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp.

 

Lei Dianwu, aged 57, Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Lei is a Professor level Senior Engineer with a university diploma. In October 1995, he was appointed as Vice President of Yangzi Petrochemical Corporation; in December 1997, he was appointed as Director General of Planning & Development Department in China Eastern United Petrochemical (Group) Co., Ltd. in May 1998, he was appointed as Vice President of Yangzi Petrochemical Corporation; in August 1998 he was appointed as Vice President of Yangzi Petrochemical Co., Ltd. in March 1999, he was appointed temporarily as Deputy Director General of Development & Planning Department of China Petrochemical Corporation; in February 2000, he was appointed as Deputy Director General of Development & Planning Department of Sinopec Corp.; in March 2001, he was appointed as Director General of Development & Planning Department of Sinopec Corp.; in March 2009, he was appointed as Assistant to President of China Petrochemical Corporation; in May 2009, he was appointed as Vice President of Sinopec Corp.; in August 2013, he was appointed as the Chief Economist of China Petrochemical Corporation; in October 2015, he was appointed as Secretary to the Board of Directors of China Petrochemical Corporation; in June 2018, he was appointed concurrently as Director General of International Cooperation Department of Sinopec Corp. In October 2018, he was appointed as Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp.

 

Chen Ge, aged 57, Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Chen is a senior economist with a master degree. In February 2000, he was appointed as Deputy Director General of the Board Secretariat of Sinopec Corp. In December 2001, he was appointed as Director General of the Board Secretariat of Sinopec Corp. In April 2003, he was appointed as Secretary to the Board of Directors of Sinopec Corp. From April 2005 to August 2013, he was appointed concurrently as Director General of Corporate Reform & Management Dept. of Sinopec Corp. In July 2010, he was appointed as Assistant to President of China Petrochemical Corporation. From December 2013 to December 2015, he was appointed temporarily as Deputy Secretary-General of Guizhou Provincial People's Government and a member of the Leading Party Member Group of Guizhou Provincial General Office. In November 2015, he was appointed as Employee's Representative Director of China Petrochemical Corporation. In December 2017, he was appointed concurrently as Director General of Corporate Reform & Management Dept. of Sinopec Corp. In October 2018, he was appointed as Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp.

 

Shou Donghua, aged 50, Chief Financial Officer of Sinopec Corp. Ms. Shou is a professor level senior accountant with a MBA degree. In July 2010, she was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company; in October 2014, she was appointed as Deputy Director General of Human Resource Department of Sinopec Corp.; in August 2017, she was appointed as the Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company and Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company; in August 2018, she was appointed as the Director General of Finance Department of China Petrochemical Corporation and concurrently served as the Chairman of Sinopec Century Bright Capital Investment Limited; in December 2019, she was appointed as General Manager of Finance Department of Sinopec Corp. and concurrently served as the Chairman of Sinopec Century Bright Capital Investment Limited.; in January 2020, she was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Sinopec Corp.

 

Zhao Rifeng, aged 57, Vice President of Sinopec Corp. Mr. Zhao is a Professor level Senior Engineer with a master degree. In July 2000, he was appointed as Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Jinling Petrochemical Co., Ltd and Deputy Manager of Sinopec Jinling Company; in October 2004, he was appointed as General Manager of Sinopec Jinling Company; in October 2006, he was appointed as Vice Chairman and General Manager of Sinopec Jinling Petrochemical Co., Ltd; in November 2010, he was appointed as Chairman, General Manger, Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec Jinling Petrochemical Co., Ltd; in August 2013, he was appointed as Director General of Refining Department of Sinopec Corp.; and in December 2017, he was appointed as the Director General of the Marketing Department of China Petrochemical Corporation and Chairman and Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec Marketing Company Limited. In December 2019, he was appointed as the president of the Marketing Department of China Petrochemical Corporation and Chairman and Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec Marketing Company Limited. In February 2018, he was appointed as Vice President of Sinopec Corp.

 

Huang Wensheng, aged 53, Vice President of Sinopec Corp., Secretary to the Board of Directors. Mr. Huang is a professor level senior economist with a university diploma. In March 2003, he was appointed as Deputy Director General of the Board Secretariat of Sinopec Corp.; in May 2006, he was appointed as Representative on Securities Matters of Sinopec Corp.; since August 2009, He has served as the Deputy Director General of President's office of Sinopec Corp. In September 2009, he was appointed as Director General of the Board Secretariat of Sinopec Corp.; In May 2012, he was appointed as Secretary to the Board of Directors of Sinopec Corp.; In June 2018, he was appointed concurrently as Director General of Department of Capital Management and Financial Services of China Petrochemical Corporation. Since July 2018, he was appointed concurrently as Chairman, and Secretary of CPC Committee of Sinopec Capital Co., Ltd.; In December 2019, he was appointed as President of Department of Capital Management and Financial Services of China Petrochemical Corporation. In May 2014, he was appointed as Vice President of Sinopec Corp.

 

LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT

 

				Remuneration
				paid by
				Sinopec Corp.	Whether
				in 2019	paid by	Equity interests in Sinopec Corp.
			Position in	(RMB 1,000,	the holding	(as of 31 December)
Name	Gender	Age	Sinopec Corp.	before tax)	Company	2019	2018
Liu Hongbin	Male	57	Senior Vice President	-	Yes	0	0
Lei Dianwu	Male	57	Senior Vice President	1,592.8	No	0	0
Chen Ge	Male	57	Senior Vice President	1,600.4	No	0	0
Shou Donghua	Female	50	CFO	-	Yes	0	0
Zhao Rifeng	Male	57	Vice President	1,457.5	No	0	0
Huang Wensheng	Male	53	Vice President, Board Secretary	1,497.3	No	0	0

 

LIST OF FOrMER MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT

 

				Remuneration
				paid by
				Sinopec Corp.	Whether
				in 2019	paid by	Equity interests in Sinopec Corp.
			Position in	(RMB 1,000,	the holding	(as of 31 December)
Name	Gender	Age	Sinopec Corp.	before tax)	Company	2019	2018
Wang Dehua	Male	53	Former CFO	1,487.0	No	0	0

 

2    INFORMATION ON APPOINTMENT OR TERMINATION OF DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

On 9 December 2019, Mr. Liu Zhongyun resigned as Executive Director, member of Strategy Committee of the Board and the Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp. due to change of working arrangement

 

On 9 December 2019, Mr. Wang Dehua resigned as CFO of Sinopec Corp. due to change of working arrangement.

 

On 13 January 2020, Ms. Shou Donghua was appointed as CFO of Sinopec Corp.

 

On 19 January 2020, Mr. Dai Houliang resigned as Chairman of the Board, Non-executive Director and Chairman of each of the Strategy Committee, Nomination Committee and Social Responsibility Management Committee of the Board of Sinopec Corp. due to change of working arrangement.

 

On 24 March 2020, Mr. Li Yunpeng resigned as Non-executive Director and member of Remuneration and Appraisal Committee of Sinopec Corp.

 

On 25 March 2020, Mr. Zhang Yuzhuo was appointed as Chairman of the Board, Non-executive Director and Chairman of each of the Strategy Committee, Nomination Committee and Social Responsibility Management Committee of the Board of Sinopec Corp.

 

On 25 March 2020, Mr. Liu Hongbin was appointed as Senior Vice President of Sinopec Corp.

 

3    CHANGE OF SHAREHOLDING OF DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS, AND THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT

There is no change in shareholdings of the Company by Directors, Supervisors and other senior managements during the reporting period.

 

4    CONTRACTRAL INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND SUPERVISORS

As of 31 December 2019 or any time during the reporting period, there is no Director or Supervisor of the Company entered into any agreement with any of Sinopec Corp., its controlling shareholder, any subsidiary or related subsidiary which shall significantly benefit such Director or Supervisor.

 

5 REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS, AND THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT

During this reporting period, there is a total of 15 directors, supervisors and other senior management received remuneration from Sinopec Corp. with a total amount of RMB 17.3798 million, including 11 persons' bonus from 2016 to 2018 of them (does not contain independent directors).

 

6    THE COMPANY'S EMPLOYEES

As at 31 December 2019, the Company has a total of 402,206 employees. There are a total of 250,175 retired employees to be reimbursed by Sinopec Corp. Sinopec Marketing Co. Limited, principal subsidiary of Sinopec Corp., has 131,039 employees.

 

THE BREAKDOWN ACCORDING TO THE MEMBERS OF EACH OPERATION SEGMENT AS FOLLOWS:

 

 

 

 

EMPLOYEES' PROFESSIONAL STRUCTURE AS FOLLOWS:

 

 

 

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND STRUCTURE FOR EMPLOYEES AS FOLLOWS:

 

 

 

7    CHANGES OF CORE TECHNICAL TEAM OR KEY TECHNICIANS

During the reporting period, there are no significant changes of core technical team or key technicians.

 

8    EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SCHEME

Details of the Company's employee benefits scheme are set out in Note 39 of the financial statements prepared under IFRS of this annual report. As at 31 December 2019, the Company has a total of 250,175 retired employees. All of them participated in the basic pension schemes administered by provincial (autonomous region or municipalities) governments. Government-administered pension schemes are responsible for the payments of basic pensions.

 

9    REMUNERATION POLICY

Based on a relatively united basic remuneration system, Sinopec Corp. has established its remuneration distribution system based on the value of positions, performance & contribution, with an aim to improve employee capabilities, and constantly improve employee performance evaluation and incentive & discipline mechanisms.

 

10  TRAINNING PROGRAMS

In 2019, the Company continuously improved the management training system. With an arm to cultivate a team with 'firm political stance, strong will and highly skilled', the Company launched training courses for 145 leaders, middle-youth-age cadres and young cadres. Centring on enterprise development strategy and key work of the year, the Company organised training programs at headquarters level which were attended by 3,700 Key employees. To highlight high-end guidance and demonstration drive, the Company held strategic expert innovation leading project, senior expert integration innovation project, scientific research team leader innovation and development project, and realised the breakthrough in "top" talent training mode. To enhance the management of transnational operation, finance, taxation, law marketing and trading, the company organised a series of training programs covering 780 overseas managers. In addition, the Company focused on the inheritance of craftsman spirit and skills, and continuously enhanced the training of famous craftsmen, chief technicians and top skilled personnel.

 

PRINCIPAL WHOLLY-OWNED AND CONTROLLED SUBSIDIARIES

 

On 31 December, 2019, details of the principal wholly-owned and controlled subsidiaries of the Company were as follows:

 

Name of Company	Registered Capital RMB million	Percentage of shares held by Sinopec Corp. (%)	Total Assets RMB million	Net Assets RMB million	Net Profit/ (Net Loss) RMB million	Principal Activities
Sinopec International Petroleum	8,000	100	32,385	14,977	2,831	Investment in exploration, production and
Exploration and Production Limited						sale of petroleum and natural gas
Sinopec Great Wall Energy & Chemical	22,761	100	33,061	14,219	(795)	Coal chemical industry investment
Company Limited						management, production and
						sale of coal chemical products
Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical	15,651	100	30,763	19,985	1,609	Manufacturing of intermediate etrochemical
Company Limited						products and petroleum products
Sinopec Pipeline Storage &	12,000	100	43,756	21,767	2,525	Pipeline storage and transportation
Transportation Company Limited						of crude oil
Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fibre	4,000	100	8,372	5,468	4	Production and sale of polyester chips and
Limited Liability Company						polyester fibres
Sinopec Lubricant Company Limited	3,374	100	9,219	4,091	478	Production and sale of refined petroleum
						products, lubricant base oil,
						and petrochemical materials
Sinopec Qingdao Petrochemical	1,595	100	4,226	519	29	Manufacturing of intermediate petrochemical
Company Limited						products and petroleum products
Sinopec Chemical Sales Company	1,000	100	17,019	3,460	787	Marketing and distribution of
Limited						petrochemical products
China International United Petroleum	5,000	100	153,897	32,415	3,129	Trading of crude oil and
and Chemical Company Limited						petrochemical products
Sinopec Overseas Investment	USD 1,662	100	20,985	12,552	(139)	Overseas investment holding
Holding Limited	million
Sinopec Catalyst Company Limited	1,500	100	10,417	5,129	763	Production and sale of catalyst products
China Petrochemical International	1,400	100	19,468	4,279	136	Trading of petrochemical products
Company Limited
Sinopec Beihai Refining and Chemical	5,294	98.98	18,063	13,020	1,362	Import and processing of crude oil, production,
Limited Liability Company						storage and sale of petroleum products and
						petrochemical products
Sinopec Qingdao Refining and	5,000	85	18,951	10,285	1,070	Manufacturing of intermediate petrochemical
Chemical Company Limited						products and petroleum products
Sinopec Hainan Refining and	9,628	75	30,426	17,914	1,961	Manufacturing of intermediate petrochemical
Chemical Company Limited						products and petroleum products
Sinopec Marketing Co., Limited	28,403	70.42	469,622	218,784	22,984	Marketing and distribution of refined
						petroleum products
Sinopec Shanghai SECCO Petrochemical	7,801	67.60	23,331	18,508	3,137	Production and sale of petrochemical products
Company Limited
Sinopec-SK(Wuhan) Petrochemical	7,193	59	26,904	11,860	664	Production, sale, research and development of
Company Limited						petroleum, petrochemical, ethylene and
						downstream by-products
Sinopec Kantons Holdings Limited	HKD 248	60.33	14,061	10,942	1,131	Oil jetty and nature gas pipeline
	million
Sinopec Shanghai Gaoqiao Petroleum	10,000	55	37,744	17,791	2,452	Manufacturing of intermediate petrochemical
and Chemical Limited						products and petroleum products
Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical	10,824	50.44	45,636	30,016	2,225	Manufacturing of synthetic fibres, resin
Company Limited						and plastics, intermediate petrochemical
						products and petroleum products
Fujian Petrochemical Company Limited	8,140	50	13,346	11,854	477	Manufacturing of plastics, intermediate
						petrochemical products and
						petroleum products

 

Note   1:  All above subsidiaries except Fujian Petrochemical Company Limited are audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP or PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2019. KPMG Huazhen LLP served the exception.

 

            2:  The above indicated total assets and net profit has been prepared in accordance with CASs. Except for Sinopec Kantons Holdings Limited and Sinopec Overseas Investment Holdings Ltd, which are incorporated in Bermuda and Hong Kong SAR, respectively, all of the above wholly-owned and non-wholly-owned subsidiaries are incorporated in the PRC. All of the above wholly-owned and controlling subsidiaries are limited liability companies except for Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company Limited, Sinopec Marketing Co., Limited and Sinopec Kantons Holdings Limited. The Board of Directors considered that it would be redundant to disclose the particulars of all subsidiaries and, therefore, only those which have material impact on the results or assets of Sinopec Corp. are set out above.

 

Report of the PRC Auditor

 

 

PwC ZT Shen Zi (2020) No. 10001

 

To the Shareholders of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation,

 

Opinion

 

What we have audited

 

We have audited the accompanying financial statements China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (hereinafter "Sinopec Corp."), which comprise:

 

‧                   the consolidated and company balance sheets as at 31 December 2019;

 

‧                   the consolidated and company income statements for the year then ended;

 

‧                   the consolidated and company cash flow statements for the year then ended;

 

‧                   the consolidated and company statements of changes in shareholders' equity for the year then ended; and

 

‧                   notes to the financial statements.

 

Our opinion

 

In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated and company's financial position of Sinopec Corp. as at 31 December 2019, and their financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with the requirements of Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises ("CASs").

 

Basis for Opinion

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with China Standards on Auditing ("CSAs"). Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

 

We are independent of Sinopec Corp. in accordance with the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants of the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("CICPA Code"), and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the CICPA Code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Audit Matters

 

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

 

The key audit matter identified in our audit is "Recoverability of the carrying amount of fixed assets relating to oil and gas producing activities".

 

Key Audit Matter	How our audit addressed the Key Audit Matter
Recoverability of the carrying amount of fixed assets relating to oil and gas producing activities   Refer to Note 14 "Fixed assets" and Note 56 "Principal accounting estimates and judgements" to the financial statements.   Low crude oil prices gave rise to possible indication that the carrying amount of fixed assets relating to oil and gas producing activities as at 31 December 2019 might be impaired. The Group has adopted value in use as the respective recoverable amounts of fixed assets relating to oil and gas producing activities, which involved key estimations or assumptions including:   -    Future crude oil prices; -    Future production profiles; -    Future cost profiles; and -    Discount rates.   Because of the significance of the carrying amount of fixed assets relating to oil and gas producing activities as at 31 December 2019, together with the use of significant estimations or assumptions in determining their respective value in use, we had placed our audit emphasis on this matter.	In auditing the respective value in use calculations of fixed assets relating to oil and gas producing activities, we performed the following key procedures on the relevant discounted cash flow projections prepared by management:   ‧    Evaluated and tested the key controls in respect of the preparation of the discounted cash flow projections of fixed assets relating to oil and gas producing activities.   ‧    Assessed the methodology adopted in the discounted cash flow projections, tested mathematical accuracy of the projections, and the completeness, accuracy, and relevance of underlying data used in the projections.   ‧    Compared estimates of future crude oil prices adopted by the Group against a range of published crude oil price forecasts.   ‧    Compared the future production profiles against the oil and gas reserve estimation report approved by the management. Evaluated the competence, capability and objectivity of the management's experts engaged in estimating the oil and gas reserves. Assessed key estimations or assumptions used in the reserve estimation, by reference to historical data, management plans and/or relevant external data.   ‧    Compared the future cost profiles against historical costs and relevant budgets of the Group.   ‧    Tested selected other key data inputs, such as natural gas prices and production profiles in the projections by reference to historical data and/or relevant budgets of the Group.   ‧    Used professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist in the evaluation of the appropriateness of discount rates adopted by the management.   ‧    Evaluated the sensitivity analyses prepared by the Group, and assessed the potential impacts of a range of possible outcomes.   Based on our work, we found the key assumptions and input data adopted were supported by the evidence we obtained.

 

Other Information

 

Management of Sinopec Corp. is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises all of the information included in 2019 annual report of Sinopec Corp. other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon.

 

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

 

Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Financial Statements

 

Management of Sinopec Corp. is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with the CASs, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

In preparing these financial statements, management is responsible for assessing Sinopec Corp.'s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intend to liquidate Sinopec Corp. or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

 

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing Sinopec Corp.'s financial reporting process.

 

Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements

 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether these financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with CSAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

 

As part of an audit in accordance with CSAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

 

‧    Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

 

‧    Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances.

 

‧    Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.

 

‧    Conclude on the appropriateness of management's use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on Sinopec Corp.'s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in these financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor's report. However, future events or conditions may cause Sinopec Corp. to cease to continue as a going concern.

 

‧    Evaluate the overall presentation (including the disclosures), structure and content of the financial statements, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

 

‧    Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the Sinopec Corp. to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.

 

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

 

Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements (cont'd)

 

We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.

 

From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor's report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.

 

 

 

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP	Signing CPA	Zhao Jianrong
Shanghai, the People's Republic of China		(Engagement Partner)
27 March 2020	Signing CPA	Gao Peng

 

 

(A)    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PREPARED UNDER CHINA ACCOUNTING STANDARDS FOR BUSINESS ENTERPRISES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

               As at 31 December 2019

	Notes	At 31 December	At 31 December
		2019	2018
		RMB million	RMB million
Assets
Current assets
Cash at bank and on hand	5	127,927	167,015
Financial assets held for trading	6	3,319	25,732
Derivative financial assets	7	837	7,887
Bills receivable		-	7,886
Accounts receivable	8	54,865	56,993
Receivables financing	9	8,622	-
Prepayments	10	5,066	5,937
Other receivables	11	24,109	25,312
Inventories	12	192,442	184,584
Other current assets		28,669	22,774
Total current assets		445,856	504,120
Non-current assets
Long-term equity investments	13	152,204	145,721
Other equity instrument investments		1,521	1,450
Fixed assets	14	622,423	617,812
Construction in progress	15	173,482	136,963
Right-of-use assets	16	198,051	-
Intangible assets	17	108,956	103,855
Goodwill	18	8,697	8,676
Long-term deferred expenses	19	8,930	15,659
Deferred tax assets	20	17,616	21,694
Other non-current assets	21	17,335	36,358
Total non-current assets		1,309,215	1,088,188
Total assets		1,755,071	1,592,308
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities
Short-term loans	23	31,196	44,692
Derivative financial liabilities	7	2,729	13,571
Bills payable	24	11,834	6,416
Accounts payable	25	187,958	186,341
Contract liabilities	26	126,735	124,793
Employee benefits payable	27	4,769	7,312
Taxes payable	28	69,339	87,060
Other payables	29	72,324	77,463
Non-current liabilities due within one year	30	69,490	17,450
Total current liabilities		576,374	565,098
Non-current liabilities
Long-term loans	31	39,625	61,576
Debentures payable	32	19,157	31,951
Lease liabilities	33	177,674	-
Provisions	34	43,163	42,800
Deferred tax liabilities	20	6,809	5,948
Other non-current liabilities	35	15,364	27,276
Total non-current liabilities		301,792	169,551
Total liabilities		878,166	734,649
Shareholders' equity
Share capital	36	121,071	121,071
Capital reserve	37	122,127	119,192
Other comprehensive income	38	(321)	(6,774)
Specific reserve		1,741	1,706
Surplus reserves	39	207,423	203,678
Retained earnings		287,128	279,482
Total equity attributable to shareholders of the Company		739,169	718,355
Minority interests		137,736	139,304
Total shareholders' equity		876,905	857,659
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		1,755,071	1,592,308

 

These financial statements have been approved for issue by the board of directors on 27 March 2020.

 

 

 

 

Zhang Yuzhuo	Ma Yongsheng	Shou Donghua
Chairman	President	Chief Financial Officer

 

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

 

BALANCE SHEET

As at 31 December 2019

 

	Notes	At 31 December	At 31 December
		2019	2018
		RMB million	RMB million
Assets
Current assets
Cash at bank and on hand		54,072	82,879
Financial assets held for trading		-	22,500
Derivative financial assets		940	-
Bills receivable		-	156
Accounts receivable	8	21,544	29,989
Receivables financing		207	-
Prepayments	10	2,665	2,488
Other receivables	11	78,872	57,432
Inventories		49,116	45,825
Other current assets		25,149	15,835
Total current assets		232,565	257,104
Non-current assets
Long-term equity investments	13	304,687	289,207
Other equity instrument investments		395	395
Fixed assets	14	291,547	302,082
Construction in progress	15	60,493	51,598
Right-of-use assets	16	112,832	-
Intangible assets		8,809	8,571
Long-term deferred expenses		2,630	2,480
Deferred tax assets		7,315	11,021
Other non-current assets		2,490	9,145
Total non-current assets		791,198	674,499
Total assets		1,023,763	931,603
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Current liabilities
Short-term loans		19,919	3,961
Derivative financial liabilities		157	967
Bills payable		4,766	2,075
Accounts payable		75,352	82,343
Contract liabilities		5,112	4,230
Employee benefits payable		1,214	4,294
Taxes payable		43,025	54,764
Other payables		118,064	119,514
Non-current liabilities due within one year		59,596	16,729
Total current liabilities		327,205	288,877
Non-current liabilities
Long-term loans		12,680	48,104
Debentures payable		7,000	20,000
Lease liabilities		107,783	-
Provisions		34,514	33,094
Other non-current liabilities		4,471	4,332
Total non-current liabilities		166,448	105,530
Total liabilities		493,653	394,407
Shareholders' equity
Share capital		121,071	121,071
Capital reserve		68,841	68,795
Other comprehensive income		1,181	(485)
Specific reserve		949	989
Surplus reserves		207,423	203,678
Retained earnings		130,645	143,148
Total shareholders' equity		530,110	537,196
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		1,023,763	931,603

 

These financial statements have been approved for issue by the board of directors on 27 March 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

Zhang Yuzhuo	Ma Yongsheng	Shou Donghua
Chairman	President	Chief Financial Officer

 

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

For the year ended 31 December 2019

 

	Notes	2019	2018
		RMB million	RMB million
Operating income	40	2,966,193	2,891,179
Less:     Operating costs	40/43	2,488,852	2,401,012
Taxes and surcharges	41	242,535	246,498
Selling and distribution expenses	43	63,516	59,396
General and administrative expenses	43	62,112	73,390
Research and development expenses	43/44	9,395	7,956
Financial expenses	42	9,967	(1,001)
Exploration expenses, including dry holes	43/45	10,510	10,744
Add:     Other income	46	5,973	6,694
Investment income	47	12,628	11,428
(Losses)/gains from changes in fair value	48	(3,511)	2,656
Credit impairment losses		(1,264)	(141)
Impairment losses	49	(1,789)	(11,605)
Asset disposal losses		(1,318)	(742)
Operating profit		90,025	101,474
Add: Non-operating income	50	2,598	2,070
Less: Non-operating expenses	51	2,607	3,042
Profit before taxation		90,016	100,502
Less: Income tax expense	52	17,894	20,213
Net profit		72,122	80,289
Classification by going concern:
Continuous operating net profit		72,122	80,289
Termination of net profit		-	-
Classification by ownership:
Equity shareholders of the Company		57,591	63,089
Minority interests		14,531	17,200
Basic earnings per share	63	0.476	0.521
Diluted earnings per share	63	0.476	0.521
Other comprehensive income	38
Items that may not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Changes in fair value of other equity instrument investments		(31)	(53)
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Other comprehensive income that can be converted into profit or loss under the equity method		(810)	(229)
Cash flow hedges		4,941	(9,741)
Foreign currency translation differences		1,480	3,399
Total other comprehensive income		5,580	(6,624)
Total comprehensive income		77,702	73,665
Attributable to:
Equity shareholders of the Company		63,006	55,471
Minority interests		14,696	18,194

 

These financial statements have been approved for issue by the board of directors on 27 March 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

Zhang Yuzhuo	Ma Yongsheng	Shou Donghua
Chairman	President	Chief Financial Officer

 

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

 

INCOME STATEMENT

For the year ended 31 December 2019

 

	Notes	2019	2018
		RMB million	RMB million
Operating income	40	1,021,272	1,058,493
Less:     Operating costs	40	799,566	812,355
Taxes and surcharges		161,820	168,905
Selling and distribution expenses		3,420	3,078
General and administrative expenses		28,302	36,169
Research and development expenses		8,597	7,453
Financial expenses		7,628	1,029
Exploration expenses, including dry holes		9,417	9,796
Add:     Other income		3,497	2,777
Investment income	47