China's top oil refiner has been given a license allowing the commercial use of its self-developed aviation biofuel, the country's aviation authority said on February 12.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) granted the license, the first of its kind, to Sinopec, allowing the company's No.1 Aviation Biofuel to be used by airlines.

Xu Chaoqun, Deputy Director of CAAC's Flight Criteria Department, hailed the development as a significant breakthrough for the country's research, production and application of aviation biofuel.

CAAC received Sinopec's application for commercial use of the biofuel in early 2012. The No.1 Aviation Biofuel had gone through several rounds of strict tests before it was given the green light, according to Xu.

With an annual consumption of nearly 20 million tons, China has become a large consumer of aviation fuels, and the development of biofuel will help ease resource pressures and cut pollution.

Biofuel is gaining popularity worldwide. The International Air Transport Association forecasts that biofuel will account for 30 percent of aviation fuel used by 2020.