On the eve of the 3rd Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the authorities are still carrying out a purge in various departments. Recently, four former senior executives of CNOOC Group, the birthplace of Jiang Zemin, the second-in-command of the Jiang faction within the CPC and former Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, were removed from their positions on the same day.
On July 9, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced the investigation of four officials from China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). The four investigated officials are: Zi Shilong, former deputy general manager of the Legal and Foreign Affairs Department of CNOOC; Cao Shujie, former full-time external director of CNOOC Group Office and former director of China United Coalbed Methane Limited Liability Company; Yu Guimin, former party committee member, deputy general manager, and chief engineer (drilling) of Tianjin Branch of CNOOC; Deng Jianming, former deputy general manager of the Engineering and Technology Department of CNOOC.
The previous day, CNOOC Group had just reported on the rectification progress of the first round of inspections by the 20th Central Committee, and the next day announced the investigation of the four individuals. State media reported that three of the aforementioned four individuals, Zi Shilong, Cao Shujie, and Yu Guimin, all worked at China National Offshore Oil Corporation Field Services Co., Ltd.
Zi Shilong, born in 1971, had worked at China Petroleum Technology & Development Corporation since 1994. In January 2002, he joined CNOOC Field Service Co., Ltd., holding positions such as Manager of Cementing Department, Deputy General Manager of Oilfield Production Department, General Manager of CNOOC Field Service Indonesia Company, and General Manager of Human Resources Department of CNOOC Field Service. He was promoted to Vice President of CNOOC Field Service in August 2013 and resigned in December 2015 due to work reassignment.
Cao Shujie, born in 1964, had served as drilling team leader, deputy supervisor, platform manager, and General Manager of Drilling Business Department in Bohai Drilling Company and North China Drilling Company of CNOOC. He became Vice President of CNOOC Field Service in 2010, Executive Vice President in 2017, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of CNOOC Field Service from March 2018 until he resigned in June 2020.
Yu Guimin, born in 1969, had worked at CNOOC Field Service for many years, holding positions such as Deputy General Manager of Well Intervention Business Department, Chief Engineer of Drilling Business Department, Deputy General Manager and General Manager of Oilfield Production Department, and General Manager of Procurement and Management Department. He became Vice President of CNOOC Field Service in January 2017 and resigned in May 2020.
It is noteworthy that Zi Shilong, Cao Shujie, and Yu Guimin have worked with Qi Meisheng, former Deputy Chief Economist of China National Offshore Oil Corporation and former Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Gas and Power Group Co., Ltd. for nearly two decades. In May 2020, Qi Meisheng was put under investigation by the disciplinary and supervisory commissions of CNOOC Group and Hubei Province.
Since the beginning of this year, several senior executives within the CNOOC system have been investigated. On April 2, Fang Zhi, former Executive Vice President of CNOOC China National Offshore Oil Corporation, was investigated; Chen Ming, former Deputy Team Leader in Charge of Coordination of Bohai Area at Tianjin Branch of China National Offshore Oil Corporation China National Offshore Oil Corporation was investigated on the same day. On March 15, Li Yong, former Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of CNOOC Group, was under investigation.
Jiang Zemin, the second-in-command of the Jiang faction, was the first “leader” of the “Petroleum Gang.” He held various positions within the CPC, eventually entering the Central Political Bureau, becoming a part of China’s national leadership.
China National Offshore Oil Corporation Limited was established on February 15, 1982, approved by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China. It is a super-large state-owned enterprise and the largest offshore oil and gas production operator in China. The registered capital of the company is 113.8 billion yuan, with five holding companies listed both domestically and internationally. The main business segments of the company include oil and gas exploration and development, professional technical services, refining and sales, natural gas and power generation, financial services, and offshore wind power and other new energy businesses. CNOOC has upstream branches in Tianjin, Zhanjiang, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.