The development of coal chemical industry enters the 2.0 era

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The coal chemical industry faces significant challenges related to its pursuit of higher sophistication, diversification, and lower carbon emissions. There are severe constraints due to water shortages, and the environmental capacity to support this industry is limited. It remains a daunting task to carry out major projects aimed at developing advanced technical equipment in this field, to accelerate the optimization and upgrading of industrial technologies, and to foster original and integrated innovation. The biggest problem with modern coal chemical industry at present is its poor profitability. Moreover, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s petrochemical production capacity will continue to increase; the markets for propylene and ethylene are already saturated, while the ethylene market is on the verge of saturation as well. The coal chemical industry may face an even more challenging situation, with modern coal chemical products having even less competitiveness. “The introduction of the \"dual carbon\" goal has posed new challenges to China’s coal chemical industry. To develop modern coal chemical industry, fundamental changes are necessary, and even the development of new processes and technologies is required. First, develop a “direct method” process similar to direct liquefaction, reduce intermediate steps, and produce the final product in just one step ； Second, make full use of the wind and solar energy that is not utilized to produce green hydrogen, in order to achieve the lowest possible costs ； Third, the carbon dioxide generated in the conversion process is used as a raw material to continue producing chemicals, thereby reducing emissions and generating revenue. Experts say that in the 2.0 era of modern coal chemical industry in China, it appears to feature high-quality development on the surface, but its core lies in extending, supplementing, and strengthening industrial chains, pushing basic coal chemical production into more advanced stages and boosting high-end coal chemicals, including coal-based fine chemicals and new coal-based materials. On the path to the upgraded development of coal chemical industry in the future, in addition to further reducing costs and improving efficiency in this basic industry, advancing low-carbon and green development, and exploring deep integration of coal chemistry with new energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydrogen in western regions as well as the reshaping of industrial models, attention should also be paid to the development of coal-based fine chemicals and new materials.