Wen Jiabao, the Chinese premier, has called for a fresh probe into the offshore oil spill at Penglai 19-3, the clearest sign yet of Beijing’s displeasure over the incident that has forced ConocoPhillips to shut down its largest oilfield in China.
The remarks from China’s cabinet underscore how the spill, though small in size, has caught the attention of top leaders at a time when environmental concerns are rising. For decades China’s economic boom has been accompanied by growing pollution, but this year officials have warned environmental degradation was a “bottleneck” for economic growth.
Earlier on Wednesday ConocoPhillips, the operator of Penglai 19-3, issued an unusual apology in a bid to smooth relations with Beijing.