Sinopec's logo is seen at one of its gas stations in Hong Kong in this April 26, 2010 file picture.[Photo/Agencies]

State-controlled oil refiner Sinopec Group is planning to increase the number of young executives aged below 45, to more than 10 percent next year, in its top management team as the company seeks to further develop its talent pool.

Lyu Dapeng, a Sinopec spokesman, told China Daily on Tuesday that the company will look to increase the number of young employees across several sectors, including the top management team.

"The top decision-makers of the company have seen the urgent need to accelerate the cultivation of young senior officials who were born in the 1970s and 1980s," he said. "The company should make best use of their 'golden time' and let them take greater responsibility."

Industry experts, however, said the company's decision to rope in more young talent is related to the anti-corruption campaign in China's oil industry. The decision is also seen as an attempt by the refiner to give its employees more self-development and career opportunities.

The number of senior officials under the age of 45 will be more than 10 percent by 2015 of the management team.

Among all subsidiaries of Sinopec, the number of middle-level managers should be more than 20 percent among the total management team. Next year, Sinopec will conduct competitions to select qualified candidates for 50-odd positions from its employees under the age of 45.

Xi Yuan, 28, who has been working at Sinopec for six years, said as a young employee, he was glad to see the improvement in transparency and openness of the selection process for senior officials.

"It has helped us have a clear perspective on career prospects, even though it might still take a very long time," he said. "It is definitely an incentive."

Lyu, the Sinopec spokesman, said that people born in the 1960s currently hold most of the top management positions.