The China Petrochemical Industry Association has launched a new body, named the Coordinating Work Committee of the New Coal-Chemical Industry, to coordinate the development of the coal-chemical industry. It is the first industrial coordinating organization for China's coal chemical industry.

China's coal-chemical industry has been growing fast over the past three decades, with the current output of coke, calcium carbide, coal-based fertilizer and coal-based methanol leading the global market. In recent years, the new coal-chemical industry saw a thriving development. For instance, annual methanol yield rose to 10.764 million tons in 2007 from two million tons in 2000. It is predicted that the country's annual methanol capacity will reach 26 million to 30 million tons by 2010.

Meanwhile, an industrial experiment has been completed for methyl-based alkene technology, followed by the construction of a number of new coal-chemical industrial projects, including Shenhua's direct coal liquefaction project with annual capacity of one million tons that will come on stream within the next two years.

The new Coordinating Work Committee of New Coal-Chemical Industry will coordinate industrial policies, production, R&D and design activities in the new coal-chemical industry to ensure healthy development of the industry.


(C) 2008 Asia Pulse Pte Ltd.