Be vigilant for foreign coal gasification technology testing ground
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China's coal-based energy system necessitates a national approach that emphasizes the development of clean coal technologies. Among these, the most critical is the efficient and clean conversion of coal into syngas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen), which is achieved through coal gasification technology. China has already developed its own fully independent coal gasification technology and successfully completed industrial demonstrations. Despite this progress, foreign coal gasification technologies continue to be introduced repeatedly, raising concerns among experts who warn that China has become a testing ground for overseas solutions.
Coal gasification serves as the foundation for various industries, including coal-based chemicals, liquid fuels, combined-cycle power generation, polygeneration systems, hydrogen production, and fuel cells. As a core and leading technology, it holds significant strategic importance for both economic growth and national security. With China’s massive market potential, many large international companies are now competing fiercely to introduce their coal gasification technologies. According to expert estimates, during the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, China's coal gasification capacity reached around 100 million tons. The construction of methanol plants, ammonia facilities, coal-to-olefin projects, and other related installations further highlights the strong demand for such technologies.
Since the 1980s, China has imported various coal gasification technologies, including Lurgi fixed-bed, U-Gas fluidized-bed, Texaco slurry coal gasification, and more recently, BGL fixed-bed and Shell pulverized coal gasification. This trend continues, with many technologies still being imported despite domestic advancements. According to incomplete data, the coal gasification equipment imported from abroad consumes approximately 58,000 tons of coal daily. Based on this, patent licensing fees alone have exceeded $200 million, not including costly proprietary equipment and on-site technical service charges. These costs add up to hundreds of millions in foreign currency expenditure.
While early introductions of foreign technologies have contributed to China's economic growth, they have also led to challenges. Many of these technologies were not fully mature, resulting in inefficiencies and high costs. For instance, the widespread adoption of Shell's pulverized coal gasification technology has led to significant financial burdens for local manufacturers due to high investment and operational costs.
In response, Professor Yu Zunhong from East China University of Technology, along with his team, has spent over two decades developing a fully indigenous multi-nozzle opposed coal-water slurry gasification technology. This technology has been successfully industrialized and holds nearly 20 invention and utility model patents. A similar multi-nozzle opposed pulverized coal gasification system has also passed pilot tests. Thanks to these innovations, foreign technology patent fees have significantly decreased.
However, the widespread adoption of this technology has faced numerous obstacles—both visible and invisible. Experts now call for an end to the repeated importation of foreign coal gasification technologies. They urge the government to support domestic technologies with independent intellectual property rights by offering financial incentives such as loans, tax credits, and policy support. These measures would help promote the large-scale application of China’s advanced coal gasification technologies, boost related industries, and save substantial patent-related costs.