Shanxi’s coal chemical industry aims to transform and forge a new path for development

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Shanxi’s coal chemical industry seeks transformation and new development paths http://china.chemnet.com March 13, 2009, 10:58:32 Business News reported on March 13 that the recently released plan for the adjustment and revitalization of the petrochemical industry states clearly: “Stop approving coal chemical projects such as those for producing coke and calcium carbide that merely aim to expand production capacity, and firmly curb the uncontrolled growth of this industry.” ”Coal chemical industry has always been a key pillar industry for development in Shanxi Province. Against this backdrop, it is crucial to figure out how Shanxi’s coal chemical industry, which relies heavily on resource-based industries, can undergo transformation. 　　Wang Jianhua, deputy director of the Chemical Industry Management Office in Shanxi Province, said that Shanxi’s economy has a low degree of openness to the outside world. The economic disruptions caused by the international financial crisis had little direct impact on Shanxi’s coal chemical industry; however, the indirect effects resulting from the slowdown in the domestic economy and the resulting decline in demand cannot be ignored. The coal chemical industry in Shanxi Province should take advantage of the current slowdown in China’s coal chemical industry to actively promote the optimization and upgrading of its modern structure. This should be achieved by innovating traditional competitive industries, strengthening the advantages of existing coal chemical industries, and increasing the share of emerging coal chemical industries. Such efforts will facilitate scale-based development, development focused on quality, sustainable development, safe development, and diversified development, thereby creating new drivers of economic growth and establishing a progressive structure within the industry. This is a breakthrough for optimizing the internal structure of the industry, and it is also the only way to address the limited growth potential of Shanxi Province’s key industries and achieve transformational development. 　　Harmonious optimization of the development pattern It is stated that, taking into account Shanxi’s energy advantages and current infrastructure, the development of coal chemical industry in Shanxi will be guided by the scientific development concept. While continuing to improve the five traditional production pathways related to fertilizers, alcohols, alkynes, benzene, and oils, this industry will build on its existing infrastructure, be market-oriented, and make comprehensive plans for optimal layout. The goal is to develop the coal chemical industry in such a way that it features high energy efficiency, low water consumption, zero emissions, and increased production without an increase in pollution. By taking into account the supporting conditions of local infrastructure such as water resources, environmental protection, transportation, and coal, as well as the development needs of various regions, the new coal chemical industry will rely on the three major coal-producing areas in eastern, central, and northern Shanxi. With large enterprises playing a leading role and park development as a key focus, three distinct coal chemical industry bases will be established in these regions, thereby gradually forming an optimized and harmoniously organized structure for the development of this industry. 　　First, establish a characteristic coal chemical industry base for fertilizers and clean energy in eastern Shanxi. The Jindong coal field includes areas such as Yangquan, Changzhi, and Jincheng, and is primarily composed of anthracite. It is planned to focus on the development of projects such as urea, methanol, and coal-based synthetic oils. Secondly, build a characteristic coal chemical industry base for Jinzhong coking and acetylene chemicals. The Jinzhong coal field covers areas such as Lüliang, Jinzhong, Linfen, and Yuncheng. Based on coking enterprises and key acetylene chemical industries, it focuses on planning and developing downstream coking-related projects such as crude benzene processing, coal tar processing, and methanol production from coke oven gas, as well as acetylene chemical projects. Finally, build a characteristic coal chemical industry base for methanol and its advanced processing in northern Shanxi. The coal fields in northern Shanxi include Shuozhou, Datong, Xinzhou and other areas; the local coal is used as the main raw material, with an emphasis on developing coal chemical projects featuring methanol, dimethyl ether, and advanced processing of methanol. 　　Two main focus areas for industrial development In terms of industrial selection, Shanxi’s coal chemical industry will, in line with the policies governing the development of this sector, as well as the domestic and international market conditions and technological advancements related to key coal chemical products, focus on coking and gasification as its two main areas of development. It will pursue transformations toward value-added processing of coking by-products, large-scale production of hydrocarbons derived from carbon monoxide, the development of clean energy sources, and the production of olefins from methanol. 　　The development of the coking and chemical products industry focuses on the processing chain of coking by-products: all coke oven gas is utilized, with an emphasis on developing it into chemical products; tar processing moves toward large-scale and advanced processing methods, while crude benzene refining is directed toward the production of fine chemicals. Coal gasification is one of the key development directions in the coal chemical industry. Methanol and synthetic ammonia, the main products of gasification, are important basic chemical raw materials. Downstream, various industrial chains such as C1 chemicals, clean energy (dimethyl ether), and olefins can be developed, offering a large market potential and good prospects for growth. 　　——The carbon-1 chemical industry chain’s products include methanol, as well as various other substances such as acetic acid, formaldehyde, and their derivatives, all of which are manufactured using methanol as a raw material. The technology and product market for carbon-one chemicals are relatively mature, offering good prospects for development. 　　——Dimethyl ether, a clean energy product produced from coal as part of the clean energy industry chain, represents a sector with great potential for development within the coal chemical industry; it should therefore be one of the key areas for the development of Shanxi’s coal chemical industry. “During the 11th Five-Year Plan period, Shanxi launched demonstration projects for the indirect liquefaction of coal by Lu’an Group to produce diesel, as well as the production of methanol from coal by Jincheng Coal Industry Group for further conversion into gasoline. With the advancement of coal gasification technology, the time is ripe for the industrialization of coal-to-natural gas, and it is set to experience significant development opportunities during the 12th Five-Year Plan period. 　　——The methanol-to-olefins industry chain: Methanol-to-olefins represents the field with the greatest potential for development in the coal chemical industry. The satisfaction rate for olefins in our country is only around 50%; following the success of the methanol-to-olefins demonstration projects during the 11th Five-Year Plan period, the development of methanol-to-olefins technology in Shanxi Province is set to see significant growth. 　　Higher entry standards have been set. It is understood that in the future, the construction of coal chemical projects in Shanxi will need to adhere to advanced technical standards and scale requirements as entry criteria, in order to elevate the industry’s level and enhance its competitiveness. The recommended entry criteria for project scale are as follows: 300,000 tons of synthetic ammonia (annual production capacity, the same below), 300,000 tons of polyvinyl chloride, 300,000 tons of tar processing (no new facilities should be established in this area); 200,000 tons of crude benzene refining (using hydrogenation processes); 1 million tons of methanol (produced from coal), with each production line having a capacity of no less than 500,000 tons; 200,000 tons of methanol (produced from coke oven gas); 1 million tons of dimethyl ether, with each production line having a capacity of no less than 100,000 tons; 3 million tons of coal-based diesel (F-T process); 1 million tons of methanol-to-gasoline (MTG); 600,000 tons of methanol-to-olefins; and 200,000 tons of acetic acid. Projects to be phased out by 2010: tar processing (batch distillation processes with a capacity of less than 150,000 tons per unit), crude benzene refining (refining using the acid washing method), calcium carbide furnaces with a capacity of 12,500 kVA or less (25,000 tons), as well as other small-scale oil refining, sulfuric acid production, and carbon disulfide production facilities. 　　It is reported that Shanxi Province **will focus on breaking through existing advanced and forward-looking technologies in the coal chemical industry, as well as on guiding and supporting the expansion of the industrial chain, in order to drive the upgrading of the entire coal chemical industry. This year, four major transformation projects will be carried out, including the project to extend the coal chemical industry chain, the project to upgrade coal gasification facilities, the project to promote technological upgrades in large fertilizer manufacturers, and the projects related to the development and utilization of coalbed methane as well as coal-based synthetic oils. This post was last edited by jindin312 on 2009-3-13 12:50.]