Chen Yingquan, former petroleum chief in the southwestern Sichuan province, has been removed from his post in connection with a gas blowout that caused a total of 233 deaths in Chongqing municipality late last year, said a source with China National Petroleum Corporation, owner of the gas well.

The gas blowout in Kaixian county on Dec. 23 caused grave loss of lives and property, said Chen Geng, president of the petroleum giant, on Wednesday.

As the former head of the Sichuan Provincial Petroleum Administration, Chen Yingquan should bear the major blame for the disaster, he said.

He noted that "the decision has been made in accordance with the request of the State Council."

In the wake of the tragedy, the Chinese central government sent a team of investigators to Chongqing and requested the petroleum giant to "draw a lesson from the disaster" and penalize officials that were held responsible for the accident, he said.

Liao Yongyuan, a CNPC executive, has replaced Chen as head of the Sichuan Provincial Petroleum Administration, he added.

A company subordinate to CNPC, the administration provides technological, engineering, production and other auxiliary services in petroleum exploration and development in the oil-rich Sichuan Basin.