The Datang Fuxin coal-to-natural gas project has reached several key milestones – “commissioning by the end of October”

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The No. 2 water supply line from the Yinbaishi Reservoir was successfully put into operation in one go, ensuring a supply of water for the project； The synthesis center has commenced the installation of refractory linings and their drying process, laying a solid foundation for the continuous, stable, and efficient operation of the facility once it is put into use ； The gasification center has completed the oil filling work for the hydraulic system of Unit A for gasification, and all parameters of the system have met the required standards... At present, at the Datang Fuxin coal-to-natural gas project site, over 2,000 workers are working at full capacity to carry out construction tasks simultaneously, with several key milestones being reached in various areas. “We have established a detailed schedule for resuming operations and bringing the facility online: by the end of June, the boilers in the power center will be ready for ignition; by September 30, the synthesis center will be ready for hot-state testing; and by the end of October, the project will be operational and capable of delivering qualified natural gas. ”Liu Xiaoming, General Manager and Deputy Party Secretary of Datang Fuxin Coal-to-Natural Gas Company, said that since resuming operations in October last year, every equipment maintenance task, every pipeline installation, and every supporting measure taken has been contributing to preparing the project for operation. At present, the majority of employees are highly motivated and confident in operating the vehicles on time and smoothly. The Datang Fuxin coal-to-natural gas project is being developed in phases, with 3 production lines, resulting in an annual output of 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas. The first production line alone generates 1.33 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, and it plays a vital role in ensuring the supply of natural gas for household use across the province, meeting industrial demand, and maintaining regional energy security. “As a clean fuel, natural gas enjoys stable market demand and broad prospects. ”Liu Xiaoming said that the annual domestic demand for natural gas has now exceeded 400 billion standard cubic meters, with a high degree of reliance on imports. The natural gas produced by this project will not only be supplied to the five cities of Shenyang, Fushun, Benxi, Tieling, and Fuxin through its own 334-kilometer pipeline network, but it is also planned to be connected to the China-Russia East Pipeline Network, thereby creating a \"dual-channel\" system for ensuring sales. Equipment maintenance and technical upgrades were the foremost tasks faced since the project resumed operations, as they directly affect the quality and efficiency of the project’s operation once it is put into use ； The stable supply of key materials such as coal and water is a prerequisite for the smooth operation of the project ； Waste disposal after commissioning is equally important; establishing a standardized and resource-based approach to the comprehensive utilization of waste is a key factor in determining the project’s level of sustainability. At present, the relevant constraints are being addressed one by one, and construction at the project site is accelerating significantly. At the synthesis center, tasks such as equipment maintenance, pipeline inspection, heat exchanger pressure testing, and electrical instrument calibration are carried out simultaneously. Li Qiang, the person in charge, explained to the reporters while conducting an on-site inspection: \"As the core production unit of the coal-to-natural gas project, the synthesis unit can be regarded as the ‘heart’ of the project. It is responsible for key processes such as the purification of raw gas, its conversion, and the refinement of the resulting product gas, and it serves as the essential device to ensure the efficient and stable operation of the entire facility.\" ”“We are currently conducting pressure tests on 145 heat exchangers, inspecting 34.9 kilometers of pressure pipelines, carrying out 1,653 electrical insulation tests, overhauling 181 pumps, and calibrating 3,112 instruments – all of these tasks are being carried out in an orderly manner. ”Li Qiang said that every step of the process must be pursued with excellence, every piece of equipment must be in good working condition, and at the same time efforts to improve environmental protection standards must be accelerated. The proportion of green space in the project is continuously increasing. The methane recovery unit is being built at full speed under the Frame 2 of Low-Temperature Methanol Wash. “After its operation, the methane content in the exhaust gases can be reduced from 2.2%–2.3% to 0.95%, with approximately 20,000 cubic meters of methane recovered per hour. ”Li Qiang said that this approach can achieve emission reduction while enabling resource recycling. Looking at the gasification center tank area as well, equipment upgrades are being carried out in an orderly manner. “All 6 storage tanks have had their full-liquid floating trays replaced, resulting in a significant improvement in the equipment’s airtightness and operational reliability. Going forward, systematic improvements will be made to the vent valves in the tank area as planned; the previous practice of releasing gases into the air will be replaced by gas collection. Efforts will be made to enhance the closed collection and proper handling of waste, improve the level of clean production, and ensure the green and stable operation of the facility. ”Wang Shuyu, a staff member incharge of storage and transportation at the gasification center, said that according to the plan, the tank area is supposed to complete its safety diagnosis and remediation work by the end of May, and will be ready for storing finished products by July, thus providing the necessary preparations for the operation of the main facility. Technologies are becoming more mature and reliable, helping to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Liu Xiaoming explained that the process technologies used in this project are exactly the same as those employed in the coal-to-natural gas project operated successfully and profitably by the group company in Keshiketeng Banner, Inner Mongolia, offering mature technologies and operational experience that can be replicated and scaled up. The auxiliary projects for this facility are planned to be developed in three phases; the process routes will continue to be optimized, and construction will be carried out in line with the overall plan. Once operational, this will enable effective reduction of overall costs and improvement in economies of scale. At the same time, the company will leverage the advantages of regional industrial collaboration to promote the comprehensive utilization and further processing of by-products, actively expand the industrial chain and enhance the value chain, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of local industries. Meanwhile, the project’s external \"arteries\" remained unobstructed, ensuring a stable supply of key materials such as coal and water. In coal-to-natural gas projects, coal is the primary \"ingredient\". Liu Xiaoming explained that Dongshengli No. 2 Mine, owned by China Datang Group Co., Ltd., has an annual coal production capacity of 26 million tons, which is sufficient to meet the coal needs of the project. “The strategic reorganization of integrating road and mining operations ensures a stable supply of lignite from the Guole No. 2 mine in Jilin in the future. The Papua New Guinea railway provides an efficient logistics route for coal transportation, while the abundant coal reserves in eastern Inner Mongolia will support continuous production. Speaking of water, introducing “White” to open up new sources was successful once. On March 24, the water diversion from the Baishi Reservoir was officially initiated, marking an important milestone in the progress of the project. Along the 38-kilometer one-way water diversion pipeline, 4 pipelines are laid in parallel, with a total length of nearly 200 kilometers; it is capable of diverting 13 million tons of water per year, ensuring an adequate supply of fresh water, reclaimed water, recycled water, and chemically treated water. “Key challenges that had previously hindered the progress of the project, such as environmental protection issues and related infrastructure projects, were also effectively resolved thanks to the strong support and coordinated efforts of the Fuxin Municipal Party Committee and Government, thereby removing obstacles to the smooth advancement of the project. ”Liu Xiaoming said. The industrial park includes a comprehensive ash landfill, but the complex and time-consuming process of land transfer between enterprises posed a challenge. To ensure that the ash landfill could be put into use on schedule, the government organized special discussions, introduced new policies, and facilitated the acquisition of construction permits for leased land, thereby significantly accelerating the construction of the park’s comprehensive ash landfill. “In the future, solid waste will move from simple landfilling to comprehensive resource utilization,” said Liu Xiaoming. “We have reached cooperation agreements with local enterprises in Fuxin to use the ash and slag in brick manufacturing, road construction, and mineral purification. Once it has been treated to meet safety standards, it can also be used for ecological restoration of mine sites, thus truly turning waste into treasure.” ”After nearly half a year of continuous efforts, the challenges hindering the project’s progress have been addressed one by one, and various supporting elements are being put into place step by step. The project continues to track progress and meet deadlines. There is only one goal: to commence operations on time and with high quality!