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A Record of Yueneng Chemical’s Vigorous Push to Advance Project Construction in 2021 Author/Source: Yueneng Chemical Date: 2022-02-06 Clicks: 4 On March 1, 2021, the construction of Shaanxi Yueneng Chemical Materials Co., Ltd.’s 400,000-ton-per-year ethylene glycol production facility began. More than 1,100 workers were involved in laying the foundation, constructing frameworks, and building the plant; the sound of machinery was constant, and cranes were constantly moving materials around. As seasons changed, through cold winters and hot summers, the pace of progress on this project was astonishing and inspiring. A modern coal chemical industry facility was taking shape, marking an important step forward for Yueneng Group in its pursuit of transformation and sustainable development. Located on the southeastern edge of the Mu Us Desert, in the Qingshui Industrial Park of Yushen Industrial Zone in Yulin City, this construction project is the launch project for Yueneng Group’s base for coal-based clean fuels and high-end chemical materials. It represents a significant effort by Yueneng Group to address the weaknesses in its chemical industry, adjust its industrial structure, establish a strategic development framework focused on transformation and upgrading, and accelerate the modernization of its industries. Moreover, it serves as a model project for Yueneng Group’s entry into the coal chemical industry, aiming to create a first-class high-end energy and chemical manufacturing base in China. The project covers an area of 1,711 mu, with a registered capital of 1.5 billion yuan (of which Yueneng Group contributes 45%, Yushen Coal and Electricity contributes 25%, while Coal Import and Export, Coal Transportation and Marketing, and Zhongke Yuandong each contribute 10%). The estimated investment amount is 6.243 billion yuan, and the project is scheduled to be completed and put into operation in March 2023. Once operational, it will be able to pay 483 million yuan in taxes annually and create employment for over 1,000 people. After the project is put into operation, the main product will be ethylene glycol. As an important raw material in the organic chemical industry, it is primarily used to produce polyester fibers (PET), plastics, rubber, polyester paints, adhesives, non-ionic surfactants, ethanolamine, and other products. The traditional method for producing ethylene glycol is the petrochemical route, which involves processing oil to obtain ethylene, oxidizing ethylene to produce ethylene oxide, and then hydrating ethylene oxide to yield ethylene glycol. In recent years, China’s modern petrochemical industry, represented by ethylene and propylene, has developed rapidly. However, this has led to a shortage of petroleum resources, with an increasing reliance on crude oil imports. Given the characteristic of China’s energy structure, which features an abundance of coal and a shortage of oil, Yueneng Group has developed a production process for ethylene glycol using coal as raw material. According to Zhang Jixiao, Party Secretary and Chairman of Yueneng Chemical, 2021 was a crucial year for project construction. The company adhered to the principles of \"Party leadership, coordinated planning, progress in project execution, and emphasis on management\", focusing both on advancing the construction progress and ensuring safe and orderly construction activities. By keeping a close eye on key time points, the company coordinated project construction with epidemic prevention and control, as well as with safety and civilized construction practices, thereby ensuring that the project progressed smoothly in all aspects. Especially since the full-scale commencement of work, the company has focused on project progress, quality, and safety-related investments, emphasizing the role of party building in driving progress and fostering close integration among various elements. It has created an atmosphere that encourages rapid progress on the projects, enabling efficient project development and the creation of high-quality works. As of December 25, 2021, the annual targets for this project had been fully achieved: 2.088 billion yuan was invested, bringing the total investment to 2.82 billion yuan, which represents 45.17% of the total planned investment. Large projects require thorough planning as well as great enthusiasm. To ensure the smooth progress of the project’s schedule, at the beginning of 2021, Yueneng Chemical held several special meetings to thoroughly analyze the factors that affected the overall progress of the project. A primary project network plan was developed and issued, and by optimizing the plan management and progress control systems, regular monitoring was carried out to oversee the implementation of the project plan. At the same time, the performance of each contract is evaluated on a monthly basis, and corrective measures are taken in a timely manner to ensure that all projects are carried out on schedule, with proper implementation and tangible results. At present, all target tasks have been completed on schedule. On April 29, 2021, the first lift of the steel structure for the air separation cold box was completed successfully; on May 13, the first lift of the steel structure for the boiler was completed. By June 25, all foundations of the main plant structures had reached ground level. On September 15, the concrete pouring for the gasification framework was finished. On October 4, the construction of the coal chemical circulating water station was completed. On October 10, the installation of the flare tower across the entire plant was finished. On October 28, the steam drum of Boiler No. 1 was lifted into place. On November 1, the office building and dormitory buildings were gradually handed over for renovation. On November 10, the lifting of large-scale equipment began. On December 10, the gasification furnace was successfully lifted, and on December 25, the shift gas scrubber tower was also lifted successfully... One project after another was completed on schedule, and these continuous advancements demonstrated the hardworking and dedicated spirit of the employees at Yueneng Chemical, giving rise to what can be called the “Yueneng Speed” of the new era.