The National Development and Reform Commission's Energy Research Institute has proposed that the government launch a fuel tax this year, the Oriental Morning Post reported.

The institute under China's lead planning agency also proposed that the government launch an energy resource tax between 2012-2014, the Shanghai-based newspaper said.

The institute made the proposal in a report obtained by the newspaper. The report is due for official release at the end of August or early September, it said.

The long-delayed fuel tax is to be imposed at the retail level on gasoline and diesel. It replaces the current practice of collecting road taxes.