We'll try to keep it relatively brief today, since, based on the evidence we're seen so far, people, even in US Coal Country, are more interested in the results of yesterday's holiday football games than they are in the fact that the United States of America is helping her greatest competitor on the world stage commercialize and advance a technology, and an industry, that, if all of America were freely informed of it and empowered to utilize it, could free and prevent all US citizens from further indenturing, enslaving, their children's and their grandchildren's economic, and political to be honest, futures to the tender, loving nations of OPEC.
Coal can, as a practical matter, be converted into any and all of the liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals upon which our United States economy is dependent, and for the supply of which we now rely largely upon foreign, often inimical, sources of supply.
For instance, all of the shale gas baloney sandwiches you've been fed notwithstanding, the United States was in 2012, and will remain if the manufacturing sector of the economy improves at all, unless attitudes change and public education improves, a net importer of natural gas. That is, of course, the widely accepted truth of liquid petroleum, as well, the fantasies and conspiratorial rumors you've heard about untapped reservoirs just offshore and in wildlife preserves also notwithstanding.
Those are the facts. Deal with them.
Some other facts that should be dealt with are, that, as seen for just one example in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | WVU and USDOE Sponsor China Coal Liquefaction | Research & Development; concerning: "Shenhua Coal to Liquids Plant, China; Construction Started: 2003; Project Type: New Coal to Liquids Plant; Location: China, Inner Mongolia; Estimated Investment: > $10 bn; Sponsors: Shenhua Group Corporation Ltd., ... US DOE, University of West Virginia; For an energy- and chemical-hungry economy such as China, the problem of continuing supplies of liquid fuels and chemical feedstocks is moot. One of the world’s largely untapped hydrocarbon reserves – and one that China has in abundance, with proven reserves of over a trillion tons ... is coal";
even if the US Public isn't deemed worthy enough to be told of - - and to benefit from - - Coal conversion technology, that hasn't stopped some nations in the world from benefiting from Coal conversion expertise that's been developed, some of it with our tax dollars, in the United States of America.
And, as seen in:
West Virginia Coal Association | China Makes "Huge Profits" from Coal Liquefaction | Research & Development; "'China Coal Producer Reaps Huge Profits From CTL Project'; Shenhua Group, China's largest coal producer, has made huge profits from its pilot coal-to-liquid (CTL) project in north China";
it seems to be working out pretty well for them.
We shouldn't despair too much, we guess, since, as reported to us by President Obama, in:
West Virginia Coal Association | Obama White House Says China Coal-to-Liquids = US Jobs | Research & Development; concerning a press release from President Obama's administration: "The White House; Office of the Press Secretary; January 19, 2011; FACT SHEET: U.S.-China Commercial Relations; China is a key market for U.S. exports. Those exports are generating jobs in every corner of the United States and across every major sector. These involve some of our country’s largest companies, but also an increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises. ... These cross-border collaborations, both public and private, underpin the expanding U.S.-China commercial partnership, contributing to economic growth and development in both countries. A number of these transactions highlight the increased collaboration in such areas as clean energy and green technologies. Examples of some of the deals associated with this visit include: General Electric-Shenhua Gasification Joint Venture: GE and China Shenhua Energy Company Limited (Beijing, China) have formed a joint venture company in order to combine GE’s expertise in gasification and cleaner power generation technologies with Shenhua’s expertise in building and operating gasification and power generation facilities. The joint venture will seek to advance cleaner coal technology solutions for industrial chemicals, fuels, and power generation. GE estimates approximately $150 million in U.S. exports over the first five years of the joint venture, mainly related to technology licensing, engineering, and R&D support. Additionally, the joint venture has potential to generate $1.5 to 2.5 billion in U.S. exports over the long term"even though we information-starved
One of the companies, as per our abbreviated excerpts from the White House press release, who are deeply involved in China's Coal renaissance is the venerable US industrial stalwart, General Electric, who, as we've seen in a number of reports, such as:
West Virginia Coal Association | GE Converts China Coal to Methanol | Research & Development; concerning: "'One of the World’s Largest Coal-to-Olefins Gasification Units Starts Up in China'; BEIJING, CHINA—August 12, 2010—The gasification unit at one of the world’s largest coal-to-olefins projects successfully started up at the China Shenhua Coal to Liquid and Chemical Co. Ltd.’s project in Baotou, Inner Mongolia (Shenhua Baotou Coal to Olefins project). The gasification unit uses advanced coal gasification technology provided by GE (NYSE:GE). The gasification technology converts coal into a synthesis gas (or syngas). Syngas can then be used to produce methanol, which will be transformed into olefins, a building block for producing polyethylene and polypropylene. At full production—scheduled for fourth quarter of 2010—the Shenhua Baotou Coal to Olefins project will produce nearly 1.8 million tons of methanol for approximately 600,000 tons of polyethylene and polypropylene per year. With five gasifiers and two spare units, the Shenhua Baotou Coal to Olefins project is one of the largest coal to olefins plants in the world. The plant underscores the importance that the Chinese government is placing on using the country’s large coal reserves to reduce its heavy dependence on imported olefins (polyethylene and polypropylene-based plastics) and drive further economic growth"; and:
West Virginia Coal Association | General Electric and China Forge Coal Conversion Partnership | Research & Development; concerning: "'GE, Shenhua Form Coal Tech Venture'; May 11, 2012; China Daily; State-owned Shenhua Group, China's largest coal producer, will work with General Electric Co to advance the development of 'cleaner coal' technology and solutions through the 50-50 joint venture.Partners plan to make greater use of nation's huge reserves, reduce import reliance. As a coal-to-gas boom grows in China, the founding of a new joint venture to develop gasification technologies marks part of the country's multi-billion-yuan effort to lessen dependency on oil imports";are indeed, heavily involved in China's Coal conversion industry.
Moreover, as seen in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | General Electric Recycles Carbon Dioxide | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent Application 20070149392 - Reactor for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Conversion; 2007; Assignee: General Electric Company; Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multifunctional catalyst system comprising a substrate; and a catalyst pair disposed upon the substrate; wherein the catalyst pair comprises a first catalyst and a second catalyst; and wherein the first catalyst initiates or facilitates the reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide while the second catalyst initiates or facilitates the conversion of carbon monoxide to an organic compound";they have what might be seen as some rather intriguing technology to bring to the game.
In any case, all we're bringing to you today is quite recent public announcement, from just the day before Thanksgiving in fact, by the General Electric Company, another news release, concerning Coal conversion into fuels and chemicals that, as like as not, won't find its way into Coal Country news outlets.
General Electric has been selected to provide Coal gasification technology for yet another Chinese factory that will be, or actually is already, this is announcement of an expansion, converting Coal into liquid fuels and chemical feedstock, as seen in excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to:
"Jiutai Group Selects GE's High-Pressure Gasification Solution for Coal-to-Methanol Expansion Project
Tickers: GE
BEIJING - November 27, 2013 - Seeking to boost its methanol production capacity while meeting stricter regional environmental regulations, Jiutai Group has selected GE's (NYSE: GE) high-pressure gasification technology for a coal-to-methanol factory expansion project in the Dalu New Area of Zhungeer Banner in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region in northern China.
(Note that they're not building a new Coal-to-Methanol plant, just expanding one already in operation. Business must be good. Has our US Coal mining industry announced any recent overall increases in production due to increases in demand?)
Jiutai Group, a private joint-stock enterprise, is the largest dimethyl ether producer in China. The company selected GE's ... high-pressure gasification solution to enable the factory to boost methanol production to 1.5 million metric tons of coal-to-methanol annually, a 100 percent increase in capacity. GE's solution is expected to reduce methanol production costs by as much as 11 percent compared to the original facility and will exceed China's national energy efficiency rules that require industries to utilize more efficient, environmentally friendly technologies.
(The above "dimethyl ether", or DME, can be easily derived from Methanol; and, can serve quite satisfactorily, with some minor equipment modifications, as a substitute for both Diesel fuel and LPG. As can be learned via the Jiutai Group's web site:
http://www.chinajiutai.com/en/
they are the largest suppliers of DME in the world; and, they make it for the most part from Methanol made from Coal.)
"GE's high-pressure gasification process solution gives us a cost-effective and cleaner way to produce more methanol to help us meet our growing customer demands while promoting local economic development and cleaner air in accordance with national coal-to-chemical policies," said Mr. Cui Lianguo, chairman, Jiutai Group.
The gasification system will allow Jiutai Group to more efficiently use China's local coal resources as the raw feedstock. Operating at higher pressures allows the factory to increase production capacity while reducing Jiutai Group's downstream process investment and operational expenses.
GE's technology also can help Jiutai Group lower overall plant emissions, underscoring a significant benefit of GE's technology as China's coal-to-chemicals industry continues to expand rapidly.
"We are excited that Jiutai Group has selected our high-pressure gasification technology for its methanol expansion project as China's industrial sector expands the use of cleaner coal-to-chemical applications to comply with national efficiency rules," said Yang Dan, general manage-Power Generation China at GE Power & Water. "Our technology, supported by our industry leading local customer service team, offers important economic and environmental benefits that will help Jiutai Group enhance its position and overall competitiveness."
In 2012, GE announced the creation of its GE Shenhua Gasification Technology Company joint venture with the Shenhua Group to develop and deploy cleaner energy solutions in China, with a focus on using coal in a much cleaner way. The company combines GE's expertise in coal gasification technology with Shenhua's expertise in applying GE technology for coal gasification and coal-fired power generation.
For this project, GE Shenhua will supply the license for GE's gasification technology, gasification process design package, technical services and key equipment. GE Oil & Gas also supplied three model DH7JM compressors to be used for polyethylene and polypropylene production. The compressors will be manufactured at GE's service center in Houston, tested at its facility in Connersville, Indiana and shipped to China during 2014.
(The above is as per the introductory citation of our report concerning: "GE, Shenhua Form Coal Tech Venture".)
The expanded methanol production facility is scheduled to begin commercial production in 2016.
Around the world, GE has nearly 160 gasifiers in commercial operation, including 87 in China. GE has the largest fleet in the industry, with a global presence in 15 different countries. 72 gasification facilities operate under GE gasification licenses, including more than 40 GE-licensed gasification plants using commercial technology to separate carbon and more than 50 projects in China alone. GE's gasification business offers more than 60 years of industry leading experience, proven technology and flexible engineered solutions."----------------------
And, that's about it. Note, in the text of the news release, that the Coal will first be converted into Methanol, and the Methanol will then be converted into DME, and, it seems, into "polyethylene and polypropylene", as well.
Further, we remind you, as seen for one example in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | ExxonMobil Coal to Methanol to Gasoline | Research & Development; concerning both: "United States Patent 4,348,486 - Production of Methanol via Catalytic Coal Gasification; 1982; Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company; Abstract: Methanol is produced by gasifying a carbonaceous feed material with steam ... wherein said carbonaceous feed material comprises coal" and "United States Patent 4,035,430 - Conversion of Methanol to Gasoline; 1977; Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation; Abstract: The conversion of methanol to gasoline boiling products";
that Methanol, once it's been synthesized from Coal, can then be efficiently converted into Gasoline.
We don't expect news of the fact - - that a major United States corporation is going to help China further expand her already-extensive Coal gasification and liquefaction industry - - will help any out-of-work or underemployed Coal miners or chemical workers in US Coal Country digest yesterday's turkey any better.
If anything, it should contribute to indigestion.
Some things are getting pretty hard for us, here, to swallow, in any case.
But, folks, all of us, or most of us, did eat some turkey yesterday. And, if those of us US citizens, especially those of us US citizens resident in US Coal Country who genuinely, and we emphasize genuinely, care about our nation and about the economic future of all her people, and of our children, don't begin to speak openly and honestly about the truth of the matter, as embodied in and symbolized by our subject herein, the General Electric news release: "Jiutai Group Selects GE's High-Pressure Gasification Solution for Coal-to-Methanol Expansion Project";
i.e., the truth, that:
Coal can be efficiently converted into any and all of the liquid hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals we now rely upon OPEC for the supply of; and, what such technology and industry could do, if we were empowered to implement it, for United States Coal Country and, consequently, for the entire United States of America; and, for America's future, in terms of employment and strategic security;
then, we are, or we will become, just a big old flock of what we eat: Turkeys.