Sichuan plans to spend Rmb82.5bn on 137 projects in the natural gas, chemicals and petrochemicals sectors, said Zhang Yushan, deputy director of the province’s Economic Commission.

In 2008, Sichuan’s sales revenues in the petrochemicals industry increased 25 per cent year-on-year to Rmb97.9bn. This is expected to increase to Rmb157bn in 2011, of which Hongda Group will contribute Rmb30bn. Sichuan Chemical Works Group is expected to account for Rmb20bn and Yibin Tianyuan Group will generate revenues of Rmb10bn.

Sichuan has abundant natural gas reserves.