The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and China's National Supervisory Commission have announced disciplinary proceedings and a supervisory investigation into Fu Chengyu, former chairman of China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) and former head of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). According to official data, he is being investigated on charges of 'serious violations of discipline and law.' The agencies' statement does not disclose the specific circumstances of the case or name the alleged actions of the former oil and gas executive.
Investigation More Than 11 Years After Resignation
A notable feature of the case is its timeline. Fu Chengyu left his posts as chairman and party secretary of Sinopec in May 2015, and the announcement of the investigation came more than 11 years after his departure from leadership roles. Such a lengthy delay between the end of a career and the launch of a disciplinary process is characteristic of a number of cases against former executives of Chinese state-owned corporations, where the review of materials and evidence can take years.
Biography and Education
Fu Chengyu was born in 1951 in Heilongjiang Province. He graduated from Northeast Petroleum Institute (now Northeast Petroleum University) with a degree in geological exploration, and later received a master's degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Southern California (USA). Thus, his professional path combined domestic engineering education with foreign training in the oil and gas industry.
Career in Leading Oil and Gas Corporations
In 2003, Fu Chengyu was appointed general manager and party committee secretary of CNOOC, one of the country's largest offshore oil production companies. In April 2011, he moved to a higher post, becoming chairman of the board and party committee secretary of Sinopec, one of the world's largest petrochemical conglomerates. Thus, for nearly a decade, he held key leadership positions in two systemically important enterprises of China's energy sector.
Context of the Anti-Corruption Campaign
Fu Chengyu's case fits into the broader context of China's long-running anti-corruption campaign, within which the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and supervisory authorities regularly conduct investigations into current and former executives of state-owned enterprises, including oil and gas companies. In this case, the departmental statement is limited to stating the fact that proceedings have begun and contains no details about the nature of the incriminated actions, leaving room for further official clarifications as the investigation progresses.
