Rapid growth in the emerging coal-to-chemicals (CTC) sector in China could affect petrochemical and energy commodity graphs in the long-term, Gulf News reported Jan. 3. China began several CTC projects throughout 2010. These include coal-to-liquids (CTL), coal-to-dimethyl ether (DME) and coal-to-substitute natural gas (SNG) projects. The Chinese CTC industry is backed by intense interest on the part of the Chinese government and a new generation of technology, promoting entirely new avenues for the utilization of coal resources. As oil is four times as expensive as coal, CTC is a clear choice for a country characterized as having "insufficient oil, little gas and ample coal." As China imports one-third of its crude oil consumption, a shift to coal-derived chemicals production is considered a necessary route.
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