The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China's largest oil and gas producer, will invest 200 billion yuan ($29.29 billion) in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China starting next year to the end of the 12th Five Year Plan (2011-15), chinanews.com.cn reported today, citing Zhou Jiping, CNPC's vice general manager.

Zhou said the fund will be used to construct strategic crude and refined oil reserve bases and strategic oil and gas pipelines, along with gas and oil production bases and refinery chemical bases. Xiniang boasts 30 percent of China's inland oil reserves and 34 percent of China's national gas reserves.