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This post was last edited by liaifeng on 2018-8-15 at 19:24. Approval granted for Yitai Ili Energy’s 1 million-ton coal-to-oil project – Environmental impact assessment. Author/Source: Date: 2017-10-16. Views: 13. On October 15, 2017, the **Ministry of Environmental Protection issued the environmental impact assessment approval document titled “Approval on the Environmental Impact Report for Yitai Ili Energy Co., Ltd.’s 1 million tons per year coal-to-oil demonstration project” [Huan Shen 151], thereby officially granting approval for this project. The approval document states that the construction of this project commenced without the approval of the **Ministry of Environmental Protection for its environmental impact assessment documents, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China; such illegal activities have been investigated and dealt with. Itai Yili Energy Co., Ltd. must earnestly learn from these lessons, assume its primary responsibility for environmental protection, enhance its awareness of compliance with laws, safeguard the company’s environmental reputation, and prevent any further illegal activities from occurring. Itai Yili Energy Co., Ltd.’s 1 million tons per year coal-to-oil demonstration project is located in the Yinan Industrial Park (Itai Yili Industrial Park) in Chabuchar Xibe Autonomous County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. By utilizing local coal resources and employing technologies such as water-coal slurry gasification and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, this project aims to produce 1 million tons per year of oil products and other chemicals. The main production facilities include air separation, coal gasification, purification, oil synthesis, exhaust gas hydrogen production, and oil processing units. Complementary facilities include thermal power stations, water treatment plants, circulating water systems and other auxiliary projects; storage and transportation facilities such as coal silos and storage tanks; as well as environmental protection systems for wastewater treatment and reuse. The main products of the project are Euro V diesel, naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas, as well as by-products such as light alcohols, heavy alcohols, and sulfur. The Ministry of Environmental Protection believes that the project generally meets the requirements of the \"Environmental Access Requirements for Modern Coal Chemical Industry Projects (Trial)\“. There are already many chemical industry projects in operation and planned for the Ili River Valley area. In accordance with the requirements of environmental quality target management as well as the needs of this project, the people of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture have formulated a plan for reducing pollutants in the Ili region. The implementation of this project will have certain adverse effects on the environment; it is therefore necessary to ensure the stability of coal quality and production processes, strictly enforce various measures for pollution control and ecological protection, and adopt the strictest environmental risk prevention measures, environmental management systems, as well as environmental monitoring and emergency response procedures. The total investment for the project is 16.27 billion yuan, of which 4.85 billion yuan is in the form of capital funds, accounting for 30% of the total investment. The composition of project shareholders and their contribution ratios are as follows: Inner Mongolia Yitai Group Co., Ltd. holds 9.8%, and Inner Mongolia Yitai Coal Co., Ltd. holds 90.2%. In February 2017, the **Energy Bureau issued the ‘13th Five-Year Plan for Demonstrating Advanced Coal Processing Industries’, stating that this project is a demonstration project for coal-to-oil conversion. Its main tasks include the industrialization of 3,000-ton-class multi-nozzle opposed water-coal slurry gasification technology, the industrial application of improved Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactors and new-generation catalysts, as well as the use of mechanical evaporation and crystallization methods for treating concentrated brine. Environmental Impact Assessment Approval Document No. Huan Shen 151: Approval regarding the Environmental Impact Report for Yitai Ili Energy Co., Ltd.’s 1 million tons per year coal-to-oil demonstration project. Yitai Ili Energy Co., Ltd.: We have received your request titled “Request for Review of the Environmental Impact Report for Yitai Ili Energy Co., Ltd.’s 1 million tons per year coal-to-oil demonstration project” (Yitai Neng Fa [2016] No. 57). After examination, the following decision is made: First, the construction of this project commenced without the approval of our department for its environmental impact assessment documents, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China; such illegal acts have been investigated and dealt with. Your company must seriously learn from these lessons, assume its responsibilities regarding environmental protection, enhance its awareness of compliance with laws, safeguard the company’s environmental reputation, and prevent any further illegal activities from occurring. II. The project is located in the Yinan Industrial Park (Yitai Yili Industrial Park) of Chabuchar Xibe Autonomous County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It makes use of the local coal resources and employs technologies such as water-coal slurry gasification and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to produce 1 million tons per year of petroleum products and other chemicals. The main production facilities include air separation, coal gasification, purification, oil synthesis, exhaust gas hydrogen production, and oil processing units. Complementary facilities include thermal power stations, water treatment plants, circulating water systems and other auxiliary projects; storage and transportation facilities such as coal silos and storage tanks; as well as environmental protection systems for wastewater treatment and reuse. The main products of the project are Euro V diesel, naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas, as well as by-products such as light alcohols, heavy alcohols, and sulfur. The project generally meets the requirements of the \"Environmental Access Requirements for Modern Coal Chemical Industry Construction Projects (Trial)\“. There are already many chemical industry projects in operation and planned for the Ili River Valley area. In accordance with the requirements of environmental quality target management as well as the needs of this project, the people of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture have formulated a plan for reducing pollutants in the Ili region. The implementation of this project will have certain adverse effects on the environment; it is therefore necessary to ensure the stability of coal quality and production processes, strictly enforce various measures for pollution control and ecological protection, and adopt the strictest environmental risk prevention measures, environmental management systems, as well as environmental monitoring and emergency response procedures. After comprehensive consideration, our department In principle agrees to the nature, scale, processes, location of the construction projects, as well as the environmental protection measures outlined in your company’s environmental impact report. III. Key tasks to be addressed in project design, construction, and operation management: (1) During design, construction, and operation, it is necessary to adhere to the principles of circular economy, clean production, and green, orderly development. Process routes and design schemes should be further optimized, energy-saving and consumption-reduction measures for various facilities should be strengthened, in order to reduce the generation and emission of pollutants. (II) Effectively implement measures to prevent groundwater pollution, ensure that leakage prevention facilities are robust and secure, and strictly prevent chemicals and wastewater from contaminating the environment. Further optimize the layout of key pollution prevention and control areas. Due to the weak natural anti-fouling capacity of the plant surface, partitioned anti-seepage measures should be adopted for key pollution control areas and general pollution control areas in accordance with the \"Technical Specifications for Anti-seepage in Petrochemical Projects\" (GB/T50934-2013). Areas such as the oil production units that handle organic liquid materials, oil storage and transportation areas, chemical storage and transportation areas, the surfaces of acid and alkali tanks, as well as production wastewater ditches, should be classified as key pollution control areas. A comprehensive inspection of the leakage prevention measures in existing projects should be carried out; for components such as wastewater pipelines that have been constructed but do not meet the requirements of the \"Technical Specifications for Leakage Prevention in Petrochemical Projects\" (GB/T50934-2013), they should be reinstalled in accordance with the design specifications. The temporary storage tanks for production wastewater and concentrated brine employ clay to replace the natural foundation layer beneath the artificial barrier layer, along with high-density polyethylene barrier measures, to ensure compliance with the \"Standards for Controlling Pollution from Hazardous Waste Landfilling\" (GB18598-2001). Upon completion of the seepage prevention works, a test report shall be issued by a qualified entity; if the required seepage prevention performance standards are not met, the project shall not be put into operation. Strengthen the daily maintenance of impermeability facilities and the detection of leaks in concealed works; any damaged impermeability facilities should be repaired and reinforced promptly. Establish a comprehensive groundwater monitoring system, reasonably locate groundwater monitoring wells and emergency wells, and strictly implement the groundwater monitoring plan. Once groundwater pollution occurs, the emergency response plan should be activated immediately to reduce the degree of contamination of water bodies and soil. (III) Strengthen various environmental risk prevention measures to effectively avert environmental risks. In the event of an accident, the process exhaust gases from various units are sent to the flare system for treatment. Install tertiary accident water control facilities in accordance with regulations, and design and construct them separately from wastewater temporary storage facilities; mixing of the two is prohibited under normal conditions. A flood control structure of sufficient length should be installed at the southern boundary of the plant to effectively prevent floods from entering it. Implement separate systems for rainwater and wastewater to prevent accidental water contamination of the rainwater system. Sufficient emergency response teams, equipment, and supplies should be available, emergency plans for sudden environmental incidents should be established, and these plans should be coordinated with those of the Yitai Yili Industrial Park and Chabuchar Xibe Autonomous County. Regular emergency drills should also be conducted. (IV) Strictly implement various water pollution prevention and control measures to reduce the consumption of fresh water and the generation of wastewater. Further optimize the wastewater treatment and reuse plans to ensure that production wastewater is treated and reused in a manner appropriate to its specific characteristics under normal operating conditions. In accordance with the requirements of the \"Environmental Access Conditions for Modern Coal Chemical Industry Construction Projects (Trial)\\", your company’s proposal to use the \"high-rate membrane concentration + evaporation crystallization\" process to treat concentrated brine as part of an environmental protection demonstration project for this initiative is approved. Your company shall submit a report on the progress of this demonstration project to our department within one year of the project’s commissioning. Proper pretreatment of wastewater from units such as gasification and oil product synthesis should be carried out. The wastewater treatment plant uses a multi-stage biological treatment process. The wastewater reuse treatment facilities and the brine treatment facilities employ membrane processes, with most of the treated water being reused. Resource utilization of crystallized salts from high-concentration brine. (5) Strictly implement various measures for air pollution control to ensure that emissions of various air pollutants and the installation of exhaust stacks meet or exceed the relevant national and local standard requirements. The flue gas from the heating furnace shall be discharged after meeting the special emission limits specified in the \"Emission Standards for Pollutants in the Petroleum Refining Industry\" (GB31570-2015). The waste gas from the low-temperature methanol washing unit in the purification facility shall meet the requirements of the \"Emission Standards for Pollutants in the Petrochemical Industry\" (GB31571-2015) and the \"Emission Standards for Odorous Pollutants\" (GB14554-93) before being discharged. The exhaust gas from the decarbonization unit is discharged after meeting the Requirements for Emission of Pollutants in the Petrochemical Industry (GB31571-2015). The exhaust gas from the sulfur recovery unit, after treatment, is sent to the boiler flue gas desulfurization system. The flue gas from boilers is subjected to desulfurization, denitration, and dust removal treatments. Dust, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides must meet the ultra-low emission requirements specified in the \"Work Plan for the Full Implementation of Ultra-Low Emission and Energy-Saving Upgrades in Coal-Fired Power Plants\" (Environmental Protection Department Document No. 164 [2015]) before being released; mercury and its compounds must comply with the special emission limits set out in the \"Emission Standards for Air Pollutants from Thermal Power Plants\" (GB13223-2011) before being emitted. Strengthen control measures for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), malodors, and toxic and hazardous gases; ensure proper leak detection and repair, oil and gas recovery from storage and transportation systems, sealing of wastewater treatment facilities, and waste gas treatment, in order to effectively control uncontrolled emissions. The pollutant concentrations at the factory boundary shall meet the Requirements for Emission of Odorous Pollutants (GB14554-93), Requirements for Emission of Pollutants in the Petrochemical Industry (GB31571-2015), and Comprehensive Emission Standards for Air Pollutants (GB16297-1996). The total annual emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, VOCs, and smoke and dust for this project shall not exceed 835 tons/year, 740.7 tons/year, 115.2 tons/year, and 451.3 tons/year, respectively. (VI) Improve management and operational standards, take necessary coal blending measures to ensure stable coal quality, and further reduce the frequency of abnormal operating conditions such as startups and shutdowns, as well as the intensity of pollutant emissions. Establish a comprehensive management and dispatch system for water systems to gradually achieve refined management of these systems; if necessary, take measures such as reducing production or shutting down operations to ensure that wastewater is not discharged. The wastewater biological treatment system should be commissioned prior to the startup of the main production equipment. Under abnormal operating conditions, wastewater should be temporarily stored in wastewater holding tanks of sufficient capacity, depending on its quality; the wastewater in these tanks will be sent back to the wastewater treatment plant for processing once the system returns to normal operation. The temporary storage pool is equipped with a high liquid level alarm device and an interlock switch for shutting down the entire plant; it must not operate at a high liquid level for an extended period of time. (7) Strictly implement measures to prevent and control pollution from solid waste, collect solid waste in a classified manner, handle and dispose of it properly, and ensure that no secondary pollution is caused. The project shall not commence operations before the solid waste disposal site on which it relies is put into use. (8) Strengthen the monitoring and management of radioactive substances in coal and ash, implement monitoring plans, and adopt appropriate comprehensive utilization or disposal measures based on the monitoring results to ensure that no secondary pollution occurs. If it is detected that the concentration of radioactive nuclides does not meet the allowable concentration values for natural radioactive nuclides specified in the \"Specifications for Concentrations and Activities of Radioactive Nuclides in Materials Exempt from Radiation Protection Regulations\" (GB27742-2011), such materials must be sent to designated facilities for the disposal of nuclear waste in order to ensure that no radioactive pollution is caused to the surrounding environment. (IX) Strengthen measures for protecting the acoustic and ecological environments; give priority to the use of low-noise equipment, and adopt noise reduction techniques such as sound insulation, vibration damping, and noise cancellation to ensure that the noise level at the factory boundary meets the Class 3 standards specified in the \"Emission Standards for Environmental Noise at the Boundaries of Industrial Enterprises\" (GB12348–2008). Ensure proper environmental protection measures are taken throughout the construction period. (10) Strictly control the emission of pollutants specific to the project, and establish an environmental monitoring system that covers both organized and unorganized emissions. In accordance with the **Procedures for Self-monitoring and Information Disclosure by Enterprises under Key Monitoring (Trial)** and other relevant standards, regulations, and requirements, long-term environmental monitoring is carried out, with the monitoring results made publicly available on a regular basis. (11) Establish an environmental management team that meets the requirements of the project’s environmental protection efforts, improve various corporate environmental management systems, and strengthen environmental management. Establish smooth channels for public participation, proactively disclose corporate environmental protection information, and meet the public’s legitimate environmental protection requirements. (12) Project construction must strictly adhere to the environmental protection \"three simultaneities\" principle, which requires that environmental protection facilities necessary for supporting the project be designed, constructed, and put into use simultaneously with the main project itself. Once the environmental impact assessment report is approved, if there are significant changes in the nature, scale, location, production processes, or environmental protection measures of the project that could lead to substantial changes in the environmental impact (particularly an increase in adverse environmental impacts), the environmental impact assessment report for that project must be submitted for approval again. (13) Establish an organic connection between environmental impact assessment and the application for pollution discharge permits; include in the pollution discharge permit the various environmental protection measures specified in the approved environmental impact assessment documents, the list of pollutant emissions, information on the implementation of regional pollutant reduction and substitution plans, as well as other relevant details, and ensure that discharges are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the permit. Environmental supervision during the construction period must be carried out diligently, and upon completion of the project, environmental protection acceptance procedures as required must be followed. Conduct post-evaluation of environmental impact in accordance with the Administrative Measures for Post-Evaluation of Environmental Impact of Construction Projects (Trial). IV. Our department has entrusted the Northwest Environmental Protection Inspection Center and the Environmental Protection Department of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to carry out the supervision and inspection related to the \"three simultaneities\" principle, as well as the overall supervision and management of this project. V. Your company shall, within 20 working days after receiving this approval, send the approved environmental impact assessment report to the Northwest Environmental Protection Inspection Center of our department, the Environmental Protection Department of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the Environmental Protection Bureau of Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, and the Environmental Protection Bureau of Chabuchar Xibe Autonomous County. It shall also submit itself to the regular supervision and inspection by the environmental protection authorities at all relevant levels as required by regulations.