China’s Huadian mulls 1m tonne/year coal-to-aromatics plant

17 September 2010 10:28  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS)--China's state-owned power firm Huadian Corp is mulling building a 1m tonne/year coal-to-aromatics plant in northwestern Shaanxi province, a local official said on Friday.

The plant would use coal-based methanol as feedstock to produce aromatics products, said the official from Shaanxi Provincial Development and Reform Commission, adding the feasibility study for the project is underway.

Huadian could not be reached for comments.

“Beijing’s Tsinghua University will provide its self-research FMTA (fluid methanol to aromatics) technology for the plant. And a small pilot plant will be built first before building the 1m tonne/year plant,” the official said.

In order to ensure the feedstock supply, a 3m tonne/year coal-based methanol unit would also be constructed, the official said.

“It is very difficult to say now when the company could kick off construction because it [methanol to aromatics] is a totally new field with new production technology compared to traditional aromatics production. So many details still need further study,” he added.

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By: Judith Wang
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