China to develop coal gas as diesel alternative
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-07-13 09:53 DME-fueled vehicles have been developed by Shanghai Jiaotong University and
Xi'an Jiaotong University as well as in Japan and the European
Union.
The Xinhua-run China Securities Journal reported on Wednesday that Shanghai
Municipality planned to open the first DME-fueled bus line this year and operate
1,000 such vehicles before the World Expo in 2010.
With little likelihood of world oil prices dropping significantly,
alternative energy solutions were becoming more effective, said Zhang Guobao,
vice chairman of the NDRC.
The China Securities Journal said China's estimated annual DME output from
planned refineries was 500,000 tons. Water resources and capital
were the main restrictive factors as production of one ton of DME would use as
much as three tons ofwater.
However, coal resources were also limited and DME would be a stopgap solution
to China's energy problems, said the China Securities Journal.
Zhang warned against over-investment in the coal chemical
industry.
The NDCR suggested at a meeting in June that policies for the development of
DME and establishment of industrial standards be accelerated.
(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
|
