'Offshore Gas Stations' Curb Oil Smuggling

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 20, 2002

'Offshore Gas Stations' Curb Oil Smuggling

Chinese customs have set up trial "offshore gas stations" to supply ocean-going fishing fleets,in an effort to curb the widespread smuggling of oil products.

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Chinese customs have set up trial "offshore gas stations" to supply ocean-going fishing fleets,in an effort to curb the widespread smuggling of oil products.

The Zhoushan Customs' Office, in east China's Zhejiang Province,has been chosen to try the new anti-smuggling operation, accordingto official sources.

For years, local people have illegally sold large quantities ofsmuggled or poor quality oil products to fishing companies for ocean-going trawlers which had been unable to get oil offshore.

These offshore oil smugglers have caused huge losses to the customs department and threaten the safety of trawlers.

In May 1999, the central government authorized the Zhoushan Customs to start the trial operation. Three local fishing companies are now using "offshore gas stations".

According to customs, strict rules have to be adopted to keep acheck on the pilot companies and the trawlers as they could easilybecome involved in oil smuggling.

The experiment has cut down oil smuggling in the region and reduced the operating costs of local fishing companies.

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