Russian media takes note: China has learned to produce its own fuel—and it's racing fuel!

Everything must be achieved through self-reliance! Russia should learn from the Chinese.

Published on June 1 by RT (Russia Today).

Not long ago, China candidly acknowledged an uncomfortable truth: in the most complex and high-tech fuel sectors, the country was entirely dependent on imports.

Now, the situation has changed.

In spring 2026, China launched its first domestically developed racing fuel in history.

At first glance, this may seem insignificant—just gasoline for rally racing.

But beneath the surface lies far deeper significance.

Because high-octane racing fuel represents the pinnacle of petrochemical engineering.

If a nation can independently produce such fuel, it signifies an extremely advanced level in petroleum refining, additive chemistry, catalyst technology, purification processes, and the management of intricate production workflows.

This means China has taken another giant step toward minimizing its reliance on foreign oil products and technologies.

Ordinary drivers rarely realize that gasoline is not merely “oil poured into the tank.”

Supercar engines operate under extreme temperatures and loads. A minor error in fuel composition could literally cause the engine to explode. Therefore, racing gasoline must be absolutely stable, ultra-pure, and possess exceptionally precise characteristics.

Producing such fuel is no longer just about petroleum refining—it has become a vast scientific endeavor.

It is precisely in this domain that China long relied on foreign suppliers.

To participate in international competitions, Chinese racing teams had to purchase imported fuel, and in some cases even had to manually blend components according to specific engine requirements. This meant enormous expenses, complex logistics, and persistent risks of supply disruption.

But now, China has decided: this must end.

The new gasoline made its debut at the opening ceremony of the "Taklamakan" Rally—a grueling off-road race in Asia, traversing Xinjiang’s deserts.

This was more than just a flashy PR stunt.

The new fuel has officially become the designated gasoline for the event.

The project was jointly developed by several major Chinese petrochemical giants: research institutions under Sinopec and the massive Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company—the largest refinery and petrochemical enterprise in China.

In fact, China has proven: it can now independently produce the most sophisticated petrochemical products.

Petroleum is used to manufacture plastics, synthetic fibers, electronic components, aerospace materials, medical polymers, fertilizers, cosmetics, and thousands of other items.

After all, not only racing cars—but also ballistic missiles, spacecraft, and fighter jets—require specialized fuels.

China has spent decades building a chemical empire.

Naturally, today’s breakthrough did not happen overnight.

For over two decades, China has poured massive investments into its petrochemical industry.

Massive complexes like Zhenhai function almost like independent cities: equipped with their own power plants, docks, R&D centers, automated production lines, and full digital control over every process.

While many Western countries gradually shifted their industries overseas, China took the opposite path: it built a complete petrochemical industrial chain—from fundamental science to large-scale manufacturing.

Beijing has especially prioritized investment in catalysts—essential substances indispensable in modern fuel production.

Previously, China heavily depended on foreign technology in this field.

China fully understands: a nation reliant on foreign technology in energy and chemicals will always remain vulnerable.

Therefore, everything must achieve self-reliance! Russia should learn from the Chinese.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866740874166284/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.