Domestic methanation catalysts: the localization rate for the equipment reaches 95%! Xinjiang Qinghua prepares for the second phase of its coal-to-natural gas project

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It was recently learned that since the commissioning of Phase 1 of Xinjiang Qinghua Energy Group Co., Ltd. at the end of 2013, a total of 10.7 billion cubic meters of gas have been produced, which has been delivered to regions such as Henan and Shandong through the West-East Gas Transmission pipeline network. The company is preparing for the second phase of its coal-to-natural gas project, and once fully operational, it will produce 5.375 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Xinjiang Qinghua Energy Group Co., Ltd. is located in Yining County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, and is one of China’s coal-to-natural gas enterprises that operates stably on a long-term basis. Companies settle here due to the abundant coal resources in the Ili Valley and its favorable location adjacent to the West-East Gas Pipeline network. Coal-to-natural gas projects use lignite to produce natural gas, serving as an effective supplement to natural gas resources. China’s initial coal-to-natural gas technologies and equipment were all imported. Today, the entire industrial chain for coal-to-natural gas production in Xinjiang has been localized. It is reported that: “At present, the localization rate of our production equipment exceeds 95%.” More importantly, the industrial operation of domestically produced methanation catalysts has served as a typical example for the industrial application of domestic catalysts in China’s coal-to-natural gas industry. ” In another coal-rich area of Xinjiang, the Xinjiang Zhundong Economic and Technological Development Zone located in the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, three coal-to-natural gas projects with an annual production capacity of 2 billion cubic meters each have received pre-approval from the National Development and Reform Commission this year. According to a responsible official from one of the companies, the company has now completed the detailed geological surveys for the project. The project covers an area of about 223 hectares, with a total investment of nearly 16.8 billion yuan. It is understood that by the end of this year, **West Pipeline Co., Ltd. of the Pipeline Network Group will commence the construction of a coal-to-gas pipeline in the Zhundong Economic and Technological Development Zone in Xinjiang, as a preparatory measure for the future transport of coal-derived natural gas. Industry experts analyze that Xinjiang is rich in coal resources, and coal, coal-fired power, and coal chemical industries are among the key industrial clusters for development. On the basis of ensuring proper protection of the ecological environment and improving economic benefits, coal-to-natural gas projects provide an additional method for utilizing Xinjiang’s abundant coal resources – one in which the coal is transported through pipes, in addition to being transported by air. Xinjiang Qinghua Coal-to-Natural Gas Project produces 1.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas through coal crushing for pressurized gasification, sulfur- and oil-resistant shift reaction, low-temperature methanol washing, and Topsoe’s methanization technology from Denmark. Driving in 2013. Introduction to Xinjiang Qinghua’s 5.5 billion m³/year coal-to-natural gas project: This project has served as a model for the advancement of process technologies, the localization of equipment, environmental protection measures, and the efficient and clean utilization of coal in China’s coal-to-natural gas industry. It was one of the organizations responsible for drafting the standards “Coal-to-Synthetic Natural Gas” (GB/T 33445-2016) and “Coal-to-Natural Gas for Automotive Use” (GB/T 37178-2018). It also represents a key industrial enterprise for the transformation of valuable resources under the new framework of “industrial support for Xinjiang and project-based stabilization of border areas”. The project has been approved for phased construction; the first phase, which involves a coal-to-natural gas project with an output of 1.375 billion m3/year, utilizes key process technologies such as fixed-bed coal gasification under pressure, low-temperature methanol washing for purification, Topsox methanation, and comprehensive biological treatment of wastewater. The main product of the project is coal-to-natural gas, while the by-products include LNG, polyhydrocarbons, light hydrocarbons, crude phenol, liquid ammonia, ammonium sulfate, etc. On December 28, 2013, the main product—coal-to-natural gas—was fed into the West-East Gas Pipeline via the Horgos terminal station. The first phase mainly undertook and completed the demonstration tasks for the industrial application of 4.0 MPa coal pulverization pressurized fixed-bed gasification technology and high-efficiency sewage treatment and reuse technology.