Latest progress on the new 600,000-ton coal-based ethylene glycol project in northern Shanxi

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Latest Progress on the New 600,000-ton Coal-based Ethylene Glycol Project in Northern Shanxi Author/Source: Date: 2017-10-19 Clicks: 20 On the morning of October 13, Chen Erdong, member of the Party Committee and executive vice mayor of Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province, went to Shanyin County to investigate the progress of the integrated project for producing acrylic acid via acetylene and coal-based ethylene glycol at China Coal Huayu Group. Li Xuqing, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanyin County, Nan Zhizhong, the county head, along with officials from relevant departments and key leaders of China Coal Huayu Group, participated in the inspection. According to the person in charge of China Coal Huayu, the new integrated coal chemical projects involving 2×400,000 tons per year of acrylic acid production via the acetylene process and 2×300,000 tons per year of ethylene glycol production from coal are to be invested in and constructed by Shanxi Songlan Chemical Technology Co., Ltd. The total investment amount is 15.9 billion yuan, with a construction period of 3 years. These two projects are planned to be located in the western area of the Jinbei (Shuozhou) Modern Coal Chemical Industry Base. As for the current progress of these projects: for the 2×300,000 tons per year ethylene glycol production project, coal is first subjected to pressurized gasification to produce syngas, which is then purified and separated to yield carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Carbon monoxide reacts with methanol to form dimethyl oxalate, and ethylene glycol is produced through subsequent hydrogenation and refining processes. This process does not require stringent process conditions, making it a mature and reliable method for large-scale industrial production. The feasibility study for this project has been completed; efforts are now underway to apply for approval and prepare an environmental impact assessment. Upon completion, the project will create employment opportunities for over 500 local people, generate annual revenue of 5 billion yuan, pay 580 million yuan in taxes, and achieve an average annual profit of 1.3 billion yuan. The approval procedures by the development and reform authorities, as well as the environmental impact assessment, for the 2×400,000 tons per year acrylonitrile-based acrylic acid production project have been completed. The land required for this project is included in the list of land areas designated for key projects during Shan Yin County’s 13th Five-Year Plan period. The 2.4 million tons per year limestone mine required for the project has been approved for development; the environmental impact assessment and mining license are currently being processed, with 10.5 million yuan already invested ； The 1.2 million tons per year lime production line associated with the project has completed its registration procedures, and the environmental impact assessment has been approved. In April of this year, tenders were issued for the EPC general contracting, civil engineering work, and project supervision; 75 million yuan has already been invested in the project. Both projects use coal and limestone as raw materials, and through the combined application of three processing technologies—pyrolysis, gasification (semi-coke), and calcium carbide production—they manufacture acrylic acid and lipid products, as well as ethylene glycol, which carry high added value. The project utilizes Ansheng Company’s patented process for producing acrylic acid via the acetylene route. By establishing China’s first \"calcium carbide–acetylene–acrylic acid\" production line, it makes use of locally available coal and limestone as raw materials to carry out the conversion process of \"limestone + coal → calcium carbide → acetylene → syngas → acrylic acid + ethylene glycol\" on-site. Upon completion of the project, it will have an annual production capacity of 800,000 tons of acrylic acid and 600,000 tons of ethylene glycol. Shanxi Huayu Energy Co., Ltd. under China Coal Group was established in March 2014; it was formerly known as Shanxi Jinhaiyang Energy Co., Ltd. under China Coal Group, and is a company controlled by a central state-owned enterprise. The company’s total assets amount to 20 billion yuan, and its business activities cover areas such as coal, electricity, metallurgy and chemicals, building materials, modern agriculture, and modern service industries. The company is located in Shanyin County, Shuozhou City. The Modern Coal Chemical Industry Base in northern Shanxi (Shuozhou) covers a total area of 67.75 square kilometers, consisting of a western zone and an eastern zone. It is planned to utilize the coal resources, Yellow River water resources, and saline-alkali/unused land resources in northern Shanxi Province to build a modern coal chemical industry base in that region that meets international advanced standards. The coal conversion capacity of the base is on the order of 40 million tons per year (in terms of standard coal), with the products targeted at coal-based clean energy sources and high-end coal-based chemical synthesis materials. Large groups such as Jinmei, Yangmei, Lu’an, China National Coal Group, and Shenwu will build modern coal chemical projects. By 2020, the Modern Coal Chemical Industry Base in northern Shanxi will achieve a coal conversion capacity of 16.93 million tons per year (in terms of standard coal). It will have the capability to produce 700,000 tons per year of coal-based olefins, 600,000 tons per year of coal-based ethylene glycol, 500,000 tons per year of coal-based mixed aromatics, 500,000 tons per year of coal-based fine chemicals, 1.8 million tons per year of coal-based methanol, and 2 billion cubic meters per year of coal-based natural gas. By 2025, the Modern Coal Chemical Industry Base in northern Shanxi will achieve a coal conversion capacity of 37.86 million tons per year (in terms of standard coal). It will have a production capacity of 1.4 million tons per year for coal-derived olefins, 1.2 million tons per year for coal-derived ethylene glycol, 1 million tons per year for coal-derived mixed aromatics, 1 million tons per year for coal-derived fine chemicals, 3.6 million tons per year for coal-derived methanol, and 4 billion cubic meters per year for coal-derived natural gas.