Six departments jointly issue \"Benchmark Levels and Baseline Levels in Key Areas for the Clean and Efficient Utilization of Coal (2025 Edition)\\"

Thread Content

On December 17, news came from the **Development and Reform Commission** stating that in order to promote the transformation of the coal industry from a low-end sector to a high-end one, and to shift coal products from being basic fuels to high-value products, six departments including the Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the **Energy Bureau** jointly issued the “Benchmark Levels and Baseline Levels for Key Areas of Clean and Efficient Coal Utilization (2025 Edition)” (hereinafter referred to as the “2025 Edition”). At the same time, the “Notice by the Development and Reform Commission and Other Departments on the Issuance of <Benchmark Levels and Baseline Levels for Key Areas of Clean and Efficient Coal Utilization (2022 Edition)>” was repealed. The 2025 version released this time represents an important upgrade and improvement to the standard system for the clean and efficient use of coal. The 2025 version includes sectors such as coal-to-natural gas and coal-to-oil in the list of key areas for the first time, reflecting a focus on systematic management of energy efficiency and carbon emissions across the entire industrial chain. At the same time, the energy efficiency levels in areas such as coal-based methanol and coal-based ethylene glycol were scientifically adjusted to better meet the requirements of current technological development and emission reduction. For example, the benchmark level for coal-based ethylene glycol has been changed from 1,000 kilograms of standard coal per ton to 2,450 kilograms of standard coal per ton, while the baseline level has been adjusted from 1,350 kilograms of standard coal per ton to 3,100 kilograms of standard coal per ton ； The benchmark level for anthracite in coal-to-methanol production has been revised from 1,250 kilograms of standard coal per ton to 1,200 kilograms of standard coal per ton, while the baseline level has been adjusted from 1,600 kilograms of standard coal per ton to 1,500 kilograms of standard coal per ton. The standards cover a wide range of areas, involving 11 key processes such as coal washing, coal-fired power generation, coal-fired industrial boilers, coal-based synthetic ammonia production, coking, coal-to-methanol production, coal-to-ethylene glycol production, coal-based olefin production, coal-to-natural gas production, and coal-to-oil production. The document sets clear “benchmark levels” and “reference levels” for the key indicators in each field. Among them, the “benchmark level” is set in line with the advanced standards in the field of clean and efficient coal utilization both domestically and internationally, with the aim of guiding enterprises in their transformation and upgrading ； “The “baseline level” refers to the admission values or limit values specified in **current standards, and it represents the minimum requirements for existing projects. Regarding the implementation approach, the notice requires tailored measures. For new and expanded projects, it is principleually necessary to strive to achieve benchmark levels ； For projects whose current status is below the benchmark level, a deadline of no more than 3 years has been set for their renovation and upgrading. Local authorities are required to develop specific timelines and action plans to ensure that these projects meet the standards by the set date; those that fail to complete the renovations by this time will be phased out in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. To ensure the implementation of the new standards, **greater policy support will be provided, including the use of central government funding to assist eligible key projects, as well as incentives for financial institutions to increase green credit allocations, in order to encourage enterprises to accelerate their process of transformation and upgrading.