Oil firms to start own reserves

China may ask state-owned energy companies to start their own oil reserves to assist national reserves, the South China Morning Post reported. The requirement is expected to be included in a new energy law which could be reviewed by the State Council by December. Once implemented, the law will see commercial stocks being added to China's national strategic oil reserves. But analysts said that corporate reserves for strategic purposes could be a huge burden for private companies who are supposed to be in the business of making money. With the changes, Chinese state-owned oil companies may not have to pay for the high costs themselves as they are actually extensions of the government.