Modern coal chemical industry enters a critical phase of upgrading and demonstration

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Modern coal chemical industry enters a critical period for upgrading and demonstration. Author/Source: Date: 2017-09-28. Clicks: 51. From September 27 to 28, 2017, the (6th) China International Coal Chemical Industry Development Forum was held in Yinchuan, Ningxia, where over 500 experts and entrepreneurs from home and abroad gathered to explore innovative paths and measures for the development of the modern coal chemical industry. The forum believes that after nearly a decade of rapid development, China’s modern coal chemical industry leads the world in terms of technological innovation and industrial scale. Under the favorable circumstances of a clear industrial orientation, the 13th Five-Year Plan period and the longer time ahead will be a crucial phase for China to promote the upgrading and demonstration of the modern coal chemical industry. 　　 Gu Xiulian, Vice Chairperson of the 10th Ren Congress, highly praised the significant progress made in the coal chemical industry, and expressed the hope that this industry would implement the relevant plans thoroughly to ensure the full completion of the tasks outlined in those plans. At the same time, the operational level of the project is continuously improved through upgraded demonstrations. 　　 “Two major developments in the field of deep coal processing indicate that the industrial role of coal chemicals is now clearly defined. First, **He gave important instructions regarding the commissioning of the Shenhua Ningmei coal-to-oil project; second, the State Council approved the ’13th Five-Year Plan for Demonstrative Projects in Advanced Coal Processing’. ”**said Li Ye, Director of Regulation at the Energy Bureau. He revealed that, in light of the achievements and shortcomings in the development of coal chemical industry, the **Energy Bureau will work together with the Petrochemical Federation to conduct a comprehensive review of the process routes and technical equipment used in the coal chemical projects that are already in operation by the end of this year, and to provide support and promotion for those mature technologies and projects**. 　　 Regarding the future development direction and key priorities of the coal chemical industry, Li Shousheng, president of the Petrochemical Federation, stated that while carrying out in-depth upgrades and demonstration projects, modern coal chemical industries should focus on addressing the major key common technologies and essential equipment that hinder their development, in order to accelerate the creation of a new landscape characterized by higher-end and differentiated end products. “Considering the current breakthroughs in technological development and the potential of future technologies, several areas are likely to play a significant role: first, leveraging the advantages of coal-based ultra-clean fuels and specialty oils ； Second, make vigorous efforts to develop high-end and differentiated industrial chains for coal-based olefins and aromatics as new materials ； Third, actively explore new approaches for producing coal-derived oxygenated compounds ； Fourth, strive to promote new models for the differentiated and graded utilization of low-grade coal. ”Li Shousheng said. 　　 Han Jingyou, a researcher at the Raw Materials Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, offered suggestions for the upgrading and demonstration of modern coal chemical industries: it is necessary to conduct a thorough evaluation and summary of the experiences and issues encountered in such demonstration projects, and to focus efforts on improving the energy efficiency of these projects, reducing resource consumption and pollution emissions, enhancing the performance and added value of end products, strengthening system optimization and integration, and lowering production costs. For coal-based olefins, it is essential to focus on product differentiation as well as the integrated development with traditional industries such as chlor-alkali chemistry ； Coal-based ethylene glycol requires further improvement of its production processes in order to raise the product quality to fiber-grade standards. 　　 How should the coal chemical industry develop amid low oil prices? Wang Jiming, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, suggested that modern coal chemical industry should integrate with industries such as oil refining. It should be regarded as an important part of diversifying China’s supply of energy and petrochemical raw materials, working in synergy with traditional oil processing to foster a development pattern in which the energy industry and other related sectors complement each other. Yao Min, deputy general manager of Shenhua Ningmei Group, agreed with this view. He put forward two suggestions: first, it is necessary to leverage the agglomeration effect to form industrial clusters and pursue a path of large-scale, centralized development in order to achieve synergistic coexistence among industries ； Second, it is necessary to integrate and complement with the petrochemical industry, pursuing a path of low-carbon development for high-carbon enterprises. At the same time, he also stated that coal-to-oil is a **strategic reserve for energy security; given the current low oil prices, it is necessary to provide appropriate protection to the coal-to-oil industry to enable its healthy development. Wu Xingbin, deputy general manager of China Shenhua Coal-to-Oil Chemicals Company, suggested that for new coal chemical projects, it is necessary to avoid relying on external sources as much as possible; ideally, such projects should start with coal, or even directly from coal mines. “The demonstration shows that there are still problems to be solved, and there is much room for innovation. We must first focus on refining and improving existing projects, and only expand them at the appropriate time – pursuing both quality and scale. ”“The development of coal chemical industry is inevitable and unstoppable. ”Xu Zhengang, director of the Coal Chemical Engineering Research Institute of China National Coal Energy Group, is very confident about the future of coal chemistry. 　　 The forum was jointly organized by the Petrochemical Federation and the Ningxia Autonomous Region**, with the Coal Chemical Industry Committee of the Petrochemical Federation and the Ningxia Energy Association acting as co-organizers. It was hosted by the Chemical Industry Productivity Promotion Center, Shenhua Ningxia Coal Group, and the Management Committee of the Ningdong Energy and Chemical Industry Base. 　　 Zhang Chaochao, **Deputy Head** of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, attended the meeting and provided an overview of the region’s economic development, social progress, and the coal chemical industry.