"We support the decision of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council to approve the resignation of General Manager Ma Fucai of China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC)," said an official from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) Wednesday.

The State Council approved Wednesday Ma Fucai's resignation over a deadly gas blowout accident last year.

The SASAC official told Xinhua the accident caused great loss to the country and huge casualties.

Ma had stated several times that he should take the responsibility as company leader for the blowout, the official said. After several investigations into the accident, the CPC Central Committee approved Ma's resignation as secretary of CNPC CPC Committee and the State Council accepted his resignation as the CNPC general manager.

At the same time, the SASAC official said Ren Chuanjun, CNPC vice general-manager responsible for quality security, and other related peoples were also punished.

This decision reflected that the Chinese government has given priority to life and property safety of people, he said.

The CNPC is one of the key state-owned enterprises of China andthe country's biggest oil company, he said, adding that in recent years, CNPC staff have implemented decisions and policies on reforms by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

He expressed his belief that CNPC will carry out reform and contribute more to the country in the future after CNPC learns from the deadly gas blowout accident.

Chen Geng, once the deputy director of the State Administrationof Petroleum and Chemical Industries and the former CNPC vice general-manager and deputy secretary of CNPC CPC Committee, will act as the new CNPC general manager, SASAC official said.

Source: Xinhua